Villes Flottantes (Floating cities)

Villes Flottantes (Floating cities) is a monumental, immersive sound and augmented reality artwork co-created by visual artist Elsa Mroziewicz and author-sound designer Cécile Palusinski, with the support of musician Jean-Paul Le Goff. The project invites audiences to wander through imaginary floating cities inspired by real-world ecological solutions encountered during international residencies (Taiwan, India, Tunisia, Brazil, USA, France). It combines 2D animation, sound design, and AR technology, accessible via the “Under the Starry Vault” mobile app. Each city is accompanied by haikus, immersive audio logbooks, and animations highlighting innovative responses to climate challenges. This also provides access to videos A unique aspect is the embroidered version of the artwork (available from January 2026), created in collaboration with artisans from India and Brazil. These works on fabric honor ancestral techniques, offering a tactile counterpoint to digital art and restoring materiality and temporality to the experience. The installation also exists in leporello format, allowing portability and mediation in schools, festivals, and museums. It re-enchants our link with the ocean through poetic narratives, mythological references, and a commitment to spiritual and ecological transformation.

The Directors

Cécile Palusinski is a writer and sound designer engaged in transmedia storytelling and ecological projects. She has published several books since 2005 and led digital creations such as Nord Sud (2019) and Arbres-Mondes (2022). A laureate of the Villa Formose (Taiwan) and Villa Albertine (USA), she is also president of the Socotra Dragon Blood Tree Association and La Plume de Paon for the promotion of audiobook. She founded NUMERED Conseil to support cultural professionals with digital transitions and regularly collaborates with the Institut Français.

Elsa Mroziewicz is a multidisciplinary visual artist and illustrator whose work spans animated books, immersive installations, and augmented artworks. Her creations have been exhibited internationally, including at Columbia University (NY), Milan Design Week, and the Goodplanet Foundation (Paris). She co-directed Arbres-Mondes and was awarded the Villa Albertine residency in 2025. Her artistic practice blends ecological awareness, narrative exploration, and visual innovation.

General Information

Director: Cécile Palusinski and Elsa Mroziewicz
Production Company : Numered – Underthestarryvault
Year of Creation: 2019(brand Underthestarryvault)
Minimum Age: 8
audiocontents in many languages (french, english, portuguese)

Technical Information

Format: AR / application
Content: 6 monumental artworks (2*2,6m) / It combines 2D animation, sound design, and AR technology, accessible via the “Under the Starry Vault” mobile app. Each city is accompanied by haikus, immersive audio logbooks, and animations highlighting innovative responses to climate challenges.
Number of participants per session: 20
Equipment: tablet or mobile device
Set-up Time: 20 minutes
Device: tablet or mobile device
Surface area: 6-40 m2

Contact

cpalusinski@yahoo.fr

Trailer