Recherche sur les Tensions collection — 8 Œuvres dans 1 série d’Arnaud Quercy

What role does tension play in our lives? Is it the force that drives us toward growth, or does it quietly bind us within our own limitations? These questions linger at the heart of Research on Tensions, where each work becomes a window into the unseen forces that shape our existence, urging us to look at tension not merely as conflict but as a source of transformation.

In the mystery of perception, where does true sight reside? Can we see only what our eyes perceive, or does our awareness extend beyond physical sight? Blindsight (Oil on paper, marouflage on wood, 2022) delves into this question, inspired by a case where a blind patient could still detect movement. This piece beckons us to explore what lies beyond visible boundaries, posing tension as a bridge between the known and the unknown, between clarity and the subconscious.

Reflecting on the unity of body and mind, I find myself asking whether tension arises from our sense of separation. Can the mind and body ever truly be distinct? Spinoza’s philosophy suggests otherwise, and Body and Mind Proportions – Research on Tensions #43 (Oil on paper, marouflage on wood, 2022) embodies this question. Here, the forms merge, hinting that tension may simply be the resonance of oneness, a vibration that pulses through us when we feel divided yet yearn for unity.

And what about existence itself? Heidegger’s reflections on being suggest that tension lies at the heart of our very nature. What does it mean to “be”? To straddle the line between presence and absence? Dasein (3D printed PLA wood, 2021) expresses this delicate balance, a question in physical form. Here, tension emerges between being and non-being, pressing us to consider how much of ourselves is defined by this interplay—whether existence itself is a push and pull, a constant redefinition shaped by the space between.

But is harmony even possible without tension? Can order arise in the absence of contrast? Pythagoras – and the Harmony of the Spheres (Wood sculpture, 2021) suggests that harmony may be born of tension, of chaotic forces finding balance within themselves. Inspired by Pythagoras’ pursuit of perfect proportions, this piece reflects the paradox of harmony—a calm that exists only through the dynamic energy of opposing elements, hinting that true balance may, in fact, thrive on tension.
In Research on Tensions, there are no final answers, only the spaces where tension speaks—inviting us to confront it not as an obstacle but as a guide. This body of work, including digital pieces created between 2020 and 2021, is an ongoing exploration of how tension shapes our understanding of self and the world. Perhaps tension is neither to be resisted nor resolved but embraced—a force that asks us to look deeper, to step beyond our perceived limits, and to discover what lies within.