A week ago, I had not heard of Nicolas Baier. My friend Nelson suggested this little outing, so I went in, with no expectations, if not to spend time with my friend. It ended up being a wonderful and inspiring visit, so much that I returned with Barry, a few days later.
Most of the time, I like to experience contemporary art without knowing the artist subtext or intentions. I choose to appreciate the artworks for what I see. But this time, our visit brought a lot of questions that would have remained unanswered… if we had not asked for more information. Thankfully we did!
Follow me for a brief incursion into the creative universe of Nicolas Baier. Here’s my take on a few ”Coups de coeur”
Lounge – Wool – 2022
From a distance, you recognize a blurry representation of a space with colored 3D meshes. As you get closer, you understand that it is not an image or a print, but a woven piece, where the patterns are created by interwoven colored threads. A contemporary tapestry. Very interesting, I thought, wondering who and how this was produced.
So, we were told that the 3D rendering of a space, a lounge, chosen by the artist. The woven piece was made using the Jacquard technique. The Jacquard Loom’s first prototype dates back to the 18th century, and contributed to mechanization of weaving. Using the punched cards system, it is considered, to be the ancestor to the first computers, which also used these same punched cards for programming, two centuries later. I really like how the artist plays with today’s technology and yesterday’s industrialization methods, in weaving the past with the present, using the old Jacquard technique to materialize a virtual 3D mesh composition.
Through different reflections, the artist exposes the technological world to the natural world. Perceived space, hidden space, inner space. What we see. What we choose to show. What we leave behind. The artwork metamorphoses in front of our eyes through the course of our visit, offering an ever changing perspective, depending on the angle, the distance or the point of view of the visitor.
Volcan, 2022 – High density foam, epoxy resin, aluminium
SAS – Polylactic acid, epoxy resin, alumium – 2022
In SAS, the artist is suggesting an opening on the white wall, a door, a passage. The artwork first appears as a very reflective black and opaque surface, almost like a mirror hiding something, we can only see, as we get closer. At this point, you see a large 3D model that reminded me, of one of a city.
We are told that the artist ”scanned” all the components of a computer, to make a virtual model which is then produced by a 3D printer. By placing the model behind the black screen, the artist is said to refer to the computer screen and the digital traces we leave behind.
There was a feeling of inclusion and being part of it all. So much so, that we allowed ourselves to intervene with the work, adding our own virtual reflection!
I truly hope that I didn’t distort Nicolas Baier’s amazing pieces. These are only a few of a huge and diverse production. I hope I was able to spark the desire to get out of your comfort zone, and discover his fantastic creative universe!
Nicolas Baier – Blouin Division until March 11th 2023