Nicolas Sassoon (b. 1981, France)
Boulder 1, 2018

About the work

Boulder 1

2018

“Boulder” is a digital piece displaying the slow and gradual rotation of a 3D boulder - reminiscent of a meteor drifting in space - rendered using a limited color palette, pixelated patterns and raw polygonal faces. The floating geological figure appears cut throughout its center, revealing an inside layer that can appear both magmatic and architectural in nature. As such, “Boulder” is a reflection on speculative architectures and geologies, a transitional and projective form alluding to both volcanic activity and science-fiction.

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About the artist

Nicolas Sassoon

Born in 1981, Marseille, France
Lives and works in Vancouver, Canada

Nicolas Sassoon’s work has long been concerned with the tensions between the pixel and the screen, reflecting on their entanglement and materiality by integrating pixelated figures, moiré patterns and early computer graphics into experiential displays. This focus on early computer graphics is driven by the sculptural, material and pictorial qualities of this imagery, as well as its limitations and its poetics. Sassoon's work often explores the projective dimensions of screen-based space, and the many relationships between computer technology and the natural world. His research leads him to engage in cross-disciplinary projects in the fields of architecture, electronic music, textiles, and art. Nicolas Sassoon lives and works in Vancouver BC Canada, on the unceded lands of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations. His work has been exhibited at The Whitney Museum of American Art (US) Eyebeam (US), Current Museum (US), Vancouver Art Gallery (CA), Plugin ICA (CA), Contemporary Art Gallery (CA), Charles H.Scott Gallery (CA), Western Front (CA), PRETEEN Gallery (MX), Victoria & Albert Museum (UK), the Centre d’Art Bastille (FR), House of Electronic Basel (SW), Arti et Amicitiae (NL), MU Eindhoven (NL) , Today Art Museum (CN), Chronus Art Center (CN), the Berlin Fashion Week (DE)) and the New-York Fashion Week (US). 

Nicolas Sassoon emploie des techniques d'animation issues des débuts du graphisme informatique pour manifester un éventail de formes et de figures - encodées visuellement par des motifs pixélisés et des palettes de couleurs limitées. L’artiste utilise cette imagerie pour ses propriétés optiques et picturales, ainsi que pour ses qualités poétiques et ses limites en termes de représentation. Le travail de Nicolas Sassoon explore souvent les dimensions contemplatives, fantastiques et projectives de l’espace de nos écrans, et comment l’image numérique peut exprimer des qualités optiques, architecturales et sculpturales en relation avec l’espace physique. Sa recherche dans le domaine des arts visuels l’amène régulièrement à collaborer sur des projets interdisciplinaires dans les domaines de l’architecture, de la musique électronique, de l’industrie textile et de l’art contemporain. Nicolas Sassoon vit et travaille actuellement à Vancouver BC au Canada, sur les territoires non cédés des Nations Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Stó:lō et Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) et xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam). Son travail a été exposé au Whitney Museum of American Art (US) Eyebeam (US), Current Museum (US), Hammer Museum (US), Vancouver Art Gallery (CA), Plugin ICA (CA), Contemporary Art Gallery (CA), Charles H.Scott Gallery (CA), Western Front (CA), PRETEEN Gallery (MX), Victoria & Albert Museum (UK), the Centre d’Art Bastille (FR), Centre Multimedia Gantner (FR), House of Electronic Art Basel (SW), Arti et Amicitiae (NL), MU Eindhoven (NL) , Today Art Museum (CN), la Berlin Fashion Week (DE)) et la New-York Fashion Week (US).

Visit his website www.nicolassassoon.com
Follow him on Instagram @nicolassassoon