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The shapes drawn by Axis Mvndi correspond to representations of the universe imagined during antiquity: Babylonian constellations, seas of the Hindu cosmic egg, Greek burning wheels or Norse Yggdrasil. Using modern techniques to project these figures in space, Axis Mvndi is positioned as a poetic realization of these ancient representations.

The installation is centered around a motorized 2m parabolic dish antenna. This antenna is rotating continuously, broadcasting waves in the desired direction to achieve the drawing of a cosmological form. On a wall, a video projection follows in real time the course of waves. Anthropological and scientific documentation on cosmological representations is displayed on another wall.

The shape of an antenna characterizes the waves it can emit. Here, only one frequency is sent in a very precise direction, which determines the material, the dimensions and the structure of the antenna. The entire control equipment is arranged in a rack at the edge of the antenna.

The antenna, mounted on a rotor, is oriented horizontally and vertically according to the shape of the cosmological model executed. The installation plays on the orientation of the antenna and the duration of emission of the wave, depending on the position and the orientation of the emission location on Earth: the movement of the antenna is superimposed on the movement of the earth.

A cosmological model is broadcasted permanently in the installation. Depending on its complexity, the process lasts between a few minutes and half an hour. At the end of the process, a new model is randomly chosen, the video projection is updated and a new sculpture begins.

A video projection displays and explains the current process. It allows to visualize the model that Axis Mvndi is reproducing and the path of the waves already emitted to realize it. On the rack, a series of technical information allows to contextualize the emission: estimated duration of the realization, pointing of the antenna, position of the Earth...

Nearby a wall documents the context of emergence and retraces the history of the cosmological models executed by Axis Mvndi: tables containing texts, diagrams and sketches are produced by the artist following the anthropological research carried out.