Nuit Blanche is the city’s major free showcase inviting the public to discover contemporary art in Paris for one night, through installations, performances and spaces that open up in a different way. For this 2026 edition, the Gymnase de la Bidassoa, in the 20th arrondissement, hosts Chansons Cloches, an electroacoustic installation by François Dufeil, Anna Holveck and Charles Dubois, on Saturday, June 6, 2026. From 7:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., the audience can discover this trio blending mechanical bells, amplified voices, percussion, singing and a sound setup, with activations planned at 7:00, 8:30 and 9:30 p.m.
At the Gymnase La Bidassoa, in the Belleville district, Chansons Cloches draws on an instrumentarium designed by François Dufeil since 2019. The ensemble operates like a small sonic mechanism, built from bells that are triggered, pneumatic drums, an automatic water drum and a megaphone. These elements are not merely accompaniment: they fill the space, set the rhythm of the venue, and establish a physical relationship with sound.
Facing this setup, Anna Holveck and Charles Dubois bring a more organic presence, blending breath, voice, song, percussion and musical gesture. The sounds converse with one another, sometimes clearly, sometimes in fragments, in a form that straddles performance, sculpture and an experimental concert. As the piece unfolds, the gymnasium becomes less of a mere backdrop and more of a space to be made to resonate.
Installation, Performance, Music, Sculpture, Exhibition Formed in 2025, this trio brings together Charles Dubois, a percussionist; Anna Holveck, a singer; and François Dufeil, a visual artist. Les Cloches sous pression, a one-of-a-kind instrumentarium conceived by François Dufeil since 2019 and regularly played by Charles Dubois, now meets a new set of voice-focused modules designed for and with Anna Holveck. An automatic water drum, paired with bells struck by mechanical actuators, opens an electroacoustic writing housed within a semi-autonomous installation. Holveck’s breath engages with the timbres of the mechanical device, while Dufeil’s precise electronic percussion crosses with Dubois’s freer, more elastic gestures. Bells and rhythmic onomatopoeias, sung through megaphones, respond to one another across the concert space. Whistles and voices swirl with the bells, accompanied by pneumatically driven drums. Activations of Chansons cloches will be visible at 7:00 PM, 8:30 PM and 9:30 PM. With the support of the Centre d'Art Contemporain d'Intérêt National - Le Carré - under the direction of Bertrand Godot - 2025 for the production of the works.
Whether you're a contemporary art enthusiast, a fan of electronic music or simply curious to experience the city in a different way, this immersive artistic proposal is one of the highlights of the Nuit Blanche in Paris.
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Dates and Opening Time
On June 6, 2026
From 07:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Location
Gymnasium de la Bidassoa
25 Rue de la Bidassoa
75020 Paris 20
Access
Metro lines 2 and 3 "Père Lachaise" station
Prices
Free
Official website
www.paris.fr
More information
Open from 31h to 4h.
