French creative team Mouawad Laurier have been commissioned by historic champagne house Ruinart to illustrate the temporality of the Earth, by combining art and artificial intelligence. This immersive project marks the start of a ten-year countdown to Ruinart’s tricentenary, in 2029, and declares their commitment to nature.

Maya Mouawad and Cyril Laurier planted their installation 38 meters underground in Ruinart’s UNESCO World Heritage chalk cellars in Reims, France. Retour aux Sources is an AI root system that imitates the grapevines that burrow deep into the surrounding hillsides. Instead of water, the artificial organism feeds off data concerning the winemaking cycle as well as local atmospheric pressure, wind speed, humidity, and cloud cover.

What turns this intrepid technological venture into an innovative art installation is—as Mouawad Laurier describe it—the AI’s “emotional” reaction to the data. The structure’s bulbs and valves change color and luminosity in real-time, depending on the intensity of the sun, hue of ripening grapes, and factors related to the winemaking process.

This carte blanche commission not only provides a rich and unique sensory experience for visitors, but celebrates the interdependency of different ecosystems in the face of changing climates.

From commissioning Art Nouveau painter Alphonse Mucha for the first-ever champagne advert in 1896, to working with Dutch designer Piet Hein Eek on limited edition packaging in 2013, Ruinart has long been a trailblazer in the worlds of art and design. Harkening back to almost 300 years of history, Retour aux Sources is an emblem of the champagne house’s origins and future.