philippe decrauzat

Philippe Decrauzat (b. 1974, Lausanne, Switzerland) is one of the leading names in the new generation of optical and kinetic art. His varied production, which includes murals, sculptures, installations, site-specifics and audiovisual works, emerges from a critical reflection on the legacy of those processes in the history of art. In his work, the artist revisits notions related to the vanguards of the early twentieth century –addressing Russian constructivism, kinetic art and minimalism. In order to propose situations that aim at establishing a dialogue with the viewer and stimulating the public's gaze, Decrauzat chooses to play with lines, planes, solids and sounds.

Decrauzat presents a review of our modern heritage, mobilizing methods and theories that are present in the context of pop culture and in the fields of architecture, graphic design and experimental cinema or science fiction. However, he does not simply proceed by appropriation, but prefers discreet references –indeed he extracts themes and shapes that underlie the mediums' visual and spatial qualities. Ultimately, the emphasis of his work lies on a perception of the modern ways of seeing. In addition to the modernist logic of optics, the artist addresses the eye as an instrument, resuming understandings about the mechanics of vision that are excluded from today's artistic discourses.

Philippe Decrauzat lives and works between Lausanne, Switzerland, and Paris, France. Main recent solo exhibitions and projects include: Replica, at Blueproject Foundation (2019), in Barcelona, Spain; Double Exposure, at Praz-Delavallade (2019), in Los Angeles, USA; Tenir pendant que le balancement se meurt, at Parra & Romero (2017), in Madrid, Spain; Bright Phase, Dark Phase, at Galerie Mehdi Chouakri (2016), in Berlin, Germany. Recent group shows include: Concrete Contemporary – Now is Always also a Little of Yesterday and Tomorrow, at Museum Haus Konstruktiv (2019), in Zurich, Switzerland; The Philosophical Eye, at A Arte Invernizzi Gallery (2018), in Milano, Italy; Action Reaction. 100 Years of Kinetic Art, at Kunsthal Rotterdam (2018), in Rotterdam, The Netherlands; and Flatland / Abstractions narratives #2, at Musée d'Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean (MUDAM) (2017), in Luxemburg, Luxemburg. His works are included in major public collections such as: Fondation Louis Vuitton (FLV), Paris, France; Kunsthaus Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland; Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Buenos Aires (MACBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York City, NY, USA.