Iconic architecture, European landmarks: here, nothing less than the Parthenon in Athens is reconstructed from cardboard, sticky tape and a chainsaw. Through extreme physicality, the craftswoman – who could be a futuristic guerrilla fighter or punk-warrior – shows a Europe that no longer provides protection, a Europe that is under threat and able to secure its continued existence and growth only by means of continual exploitation. Can this precarious continent still provide a place to call home? No sooner than the temple is finished, it comes crashing down again, leaving powerful images of ruinous beauty and destruction.

The Compagnie Non Nova was founded in 1998 by Phia Ménard out of the desire not to invent something new, but rather to show their alternative perspective on things. Over the years, the company has developed into a professional 40-strong team who create multidisciplinary projects under the artistic direction of Phia Ménard and Claire Massonnet. The research process Complementary Unjugglability of the Elements, initiated by the company in 2008, encompasses the idea of artistically visualising the transformation and erosion of natural matter and elements such as ice, water, vapour, air, and their effects on human behaviour.