French artist Etienne de France works between poetic fiction and ‘fact’ to create artworks that open up new possibilities for thinking about our concepts of nature and landscape. His projects result from long-periods of research and development and resolve as multilayered narratives informed by the fields of architecture and science. His works often comprise of multiple elements - writing, video, photography, drawing and sculpture.
Amongst de France’s most notable projects are Tales of a Sea Cow (2012), a film about the rediscovery of a marine mammal in Greenland, and Icelandtraincity (2011), a sculptual work resulting from a collaborative research project with architecture students; this work explores the possibilities for a new utopia - a modular and sustainable city moving on train tracks.
As part of his residency Etienne worked on The Green Vessel, an on-going project, about a scientific research team who discover the contamination of a mountain river buried deep in a forrest, in a remote region of an unnamed land. His research during the residency added another layer to narratives developed during his residencies in France and Colombia in 2016. The project includes film, installation, costume and drawing.
Etienne de France (b. 1984, Paris) is a visual artist, currently based in Paris, France. He received a B.A in Art History and Archaeology in Paris (2002-2005), and then completed a B.A in Visual Arts at the Iceland Art Academy of Reykjavik (2005-2008).
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Etienne de France, The Green Vessel. Digital video still, 2016. Courtesy of the artist.
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Etienne de France, The Green Vessel. Digital video still, 2015. Courtesy of the artist.
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Etienne de France, From The Green Vessel. 2016. Te Whare Hēra Gallery. Photograph by Tom Hoyle.
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Etienne de France, The Green Vessel. Digital video still, 2015. Courtesy of the artist.
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Etienne de France, From The Green Vessel. 2016. Te Whare Hēra Gallery. Photograph by Tom Hoyle.
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Etienne de France, From The Green Vessel. 2016. Te Whare Hēra Gallery. Photograph by Tom Hoyle.
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Etienne de France, From The Green Vessel. 2016. Te Whare Hēra Gallery. Photograph by Tom Hoyle.
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Etienne de France, From The Green Vessel. 2016. Te Whare Hēra Gallery. Photograph by Tom Hoyle.
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Etienne de France, From The Green Vessel. 2016. Te Whare Hēra Gallery. Photograph by Tom Hoyle.
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Etienne de France, Icelandtrain uniforms (maintenance worker), collection woman/man. Textiles and mixed media, 2010. Courtesy of the artist.
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Etienne de France, Icelandtrain uniforms (maintenance worker), collection woman/man. Textiles and mixed media, 2010. Courtesy of the artist.
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Etienne de France, Icelandtrain uniforms (maintenance worker), collection woman/man. Textiles and mixed media, 2010. Courtesy of the artist.
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Etienne de France, Rise. 17 site-specific sculptures (each structure approx. 2 × 3 × 2m), 2013. Courtesy of the artist.
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Etienne de France, Rise. 17 site-specific sculptures (each structure approx. 2 × 3 × 2m), 2013. Courtesy of the artist.
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Etienne de France, Tales of a sea cow. HD video, colour and stereo, 58 minutes, 2012. Courtesy of the artist.
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Etienne de France, Icelandtraincity. Wood and mixed media, 180 x 180 x 90cm, 2010. Courtesy of the artist.
Etienne de France’s residency was supported by the French Embassy in New Zealand. For more information on Etienne de France visit his website
