Light, the common thread in the works of Joanie Lemercier in the “Points de vue” exhibition, in Seine-Maritime

On the border between reality and dreams, the French artist presents his luminous works at the Contemporary Art Center of Saint-Pierre-de-Varengeville. The exhibition questions man’s relationship with nature, relying on technology.

A vast snow-capped mountain range. The shadows stretch and come alive on the rocky peaks. A captivating and strikingly realistic landscape. However, it is a multitude of polygons that make up this panorama, all animated by an algorithm. The artist Joanie Lemercier questions the public about our reality and nature.

An invitation to reflect on a world that would imitate ours thanks to mathematics. The luminous works of Loirétain are grouped together in the exhibition Perspectivesat the Contemporary Art Center of Saint-Pierre-de-Varengeville, until March 24, 2024.

Here, technology becomes one with contemporary art. Visual perception is first disturbed by the luminous creations, the only landmarks in the dark galleries. The work Edges plays with geometric shapes and space. The lines overlap, grids appear in a slow, hypnotizing ballet. “There is a lot of detail in his work. The idea is to take your time to discover his works” explains Elise Mariage, in charge of exhibitions.

Slow violence

A little further on, a projection is disturbing. A large plume of black smoke opens a sequence, filmed with a drone. These are images of the largest coal mine in Europe, in Germany. The soils are dug up, the machines devour tons of sediment. A landscape described as apocalyptic and which warns about the future of our planet.

The expansion of the mine caused the disappearance of a large part of the ancient Hambach forest, adjacent to the infrastructure. A vast mobilization of environmental activists finally stopped the project in 2018.

Committed artist

Joanie Lemercier does not hide her activism for the environmental cause. He notably collaborated with the Extinction Rebellion collective, during visual projections denouncing the pollution of cruise ships.

The artist himself reduced his carbon footprint in his activity, by using less energy-intensive materials. Like the work Meadow, visible in the exhibition. The latter is powered by solar energy.

Exposure Perspectivesuntil March 24, 2024. Matmut Contemporary Art Center – Daniel Havis, Saint-Pierre-de-Varengeville, free entry, virtual tour option