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Gallery Entry

The Chessboard of Dreams

By Joseph Arzoumanov · FR

Composed of gold, silver and more than five hundred precious stones, the Chessboard of Dreams transcends the simple object of contemplation and technical virtuosity. It challenges the place of creation in the age of artificial intelligence and redefines the roles of the artist and the spectator in the face of new technologies. At first glance, The Chessboard of Dreams unveils itself as a precious relic : a chessboard carved from volcanic stone and set with silver, 32 unique chess pieces, adorned with gold and silk embroidery, whose stories are kept in a secretly encoded illuminated booklet, presented on a finely crafted gaming table. A robotic arm, guided by artificial intelligence, comes to life and orchestrates the game. Thenceforth, the chessboard is transformed in a miniature theatre where mechanical gestures become narration, and the game of chess is transformed into a story. Depicting the encounter between the grandparents of the artist, the game is inspired by their life story, framed by the context of the Cold War. In a passionate duel, two phantasmagorical sides face off : the court of the Moon in black silver and the court of the Sun in white silver. As the tales of the two courts unfold on the chessboard the Fearless Black Queen and the Enamored White King face off. Envisioned by Joseph Arzoumanov as a total work of art, the installation stands as a manifesto bringing together rare skills : Armenian volcanic stone carving, Murano crystal pillars and embroidered beads, bas-reliefs in carved mother-of-pearl, illuminations on vellum inspired by the Voynich manuscript, a marquetry and embroidered wooden case-table, and gold and silk embroidery. Each piece reflects the commitment of the artist to preserve and reinvent traditional skills, blurring the boundaries between art and craftsmanship. Beneath the surface of the game lies a deeper question : are we truly the masters of our destiny? How free are the choices that shape our lives? As the kings and queens advance across the board, their encounter echoes that of the artist’s grandparents ; a meeting that appears both deliberate and guided by invisible forces. Did they choose one another, or were their paths already inscribed within a larger design? The Chessboard of Dreams becomes a layered theatre of destinies. While the spectators may believe that the robotic arm silently orchestrates the movements of the pieces, a puppet representing the master of the game presides above it from its palace, evoking an invisible hand guiding the story. Beyond this mechanical gesture, artificial intelligence introduces yet another dimension, generating its own version of the encounter of the grandparents of Arzoumanov. The integration of emerging technologies is the result of the research conducted by the artist during his residency at Villa Albertine in 2024, in collaboration with the MIT Open Documentary Lab in Boston MA. Arzoumanov specialized in 3D modeling, robotics, and machine learning to develop the system that animates this living artwork. Between human intention, mechanical execution and algorithmic imagination, the narrative of the artwork unfolds across multiple levels, blurring the boundaries between choice, chance and destiny. Answering this contemplative silence, the music of Valery Arzoumanov, the Enamored White King, guides the spectator among the ineffables, abstract, melancholic and romantic sensations his grandson feels and expresses. The Chessboard of Dreams (2026) becomes a vehicle for an impossible love story and for the aspirations of a constantly evolving society faced with unforeseeable challenges. Joseph Arzoumanov ventures into this unknown and creates his own path dreaming of treasures embracing modernity while celebrating tradition.

Category
VISUAL ART
Approved
28 September 2026