post-anthropocene landscapes unfold in laurent grasso's artificialis exhibition at sean kelly

Sean Kelly Gallery presents Artificialis exhibition

From October 25th to December 21st, 2024, Sean Kelly Gallery presents Artificialis, an exhibition by Laurent Grasso that explores themes of nature, time, and human impact in a post-anthropocene context. Featuring the US premieres of Grasso’s films ARTIFICIALIS and Orchid Island, along with two new painting series, the show merges historical inspiration with futuristic visions. Artificialis challenges distinctions between the real and the artificial, inviting viewers to reconsider the evolving relationship between culture and the natural world.

installation view of Laurent Grasso: Artificialis at Sean Kelly, New York, October 25 – December 21, 2024 | photography: Adam Reich, courtesy: Sean Kelly, New York/Los Angeles

laurent grasso explores nature, technology and time

Laurent Grasso’s Artificialis, originally created for the Musée d’Orsay’s 2021 exhibition on Darwin’s legacy, explores modern documentation techniques to depict a post-Anthropocene future. Employing advanced tools like LIDAR scanners and hyperspectral cameras, the film merges scientific precision with artistic vision, drawing connections between traditional and contemporary exploration, as well as between the real and the virtual. Artificialis questions how we perceive and interact with nature in an increasingly digital era. In Orchid Island, the French artist captures the fragile ecosystems of an island where indigenous culture and biodiversity are at risk, further expanding his themes of ecological transformation and resilience, while examining the role of indigenous practices and modern interventions in shaping a vulnerable environment.

The exhibition also features paintings inspired by 19th-century American landscape artist Frederic Edwin Church, where Grasso introduces elements that disrupt traditional pastoral scenes. His new series, Studies into the Past, places imposing, discordant shapes within serene landscapes of the Hudson River Valley, creating a visual contrast that invites reflection on environmental change. Through these works, Grasso provides a space for viewers to confront humanity’s enduring impact on the natural world, urging them to reconsider the relationship between nature, technology, and time.

Laurent Grasso ARTIFICIALIS (still), 2020 HD film 27 minutes, 33 seconds © Laurent Grasso / ADAGP, Paris, courtesy: the artist and Sean Kelly, New York/Los Angeles

installation view of Laurent Grasso: Artificialis at Sean Kelly, New York, October 25 – December 21, 2024 | photography: Adam Reich, courtesy: Sean Kelly, New York/Los Angeles

Laurent Grasso ARTIFICIALIS (still), 2020 HD film 27 minutes, 33 seconds © Laurent Grasso / ADAGP, Paris, courtesy: the artist and Sean Kelly, New York/Los Angeles

installation view of Laurent Grasso: Artificialis at Sean Kelly, New York, October 25 – December 21, 2024 | photography: Adam Reich, courtesy: Sean Kelly, New York/Los Angeles

Laurent Grasso Orchid Island (still), 2023 HD film 20 minutes © Laurent Grasso / ADAGP, Paris, courtesy: the artist and Sean Kelly, New York/Los Angeles

Laurent Grasso Orchid Island (still), 2023 HD film 20 minutes © Laurent Grasso / ADAGP, Paris, courtesy: the artist and Sean Kelly, New York/Los Angeles

Laurent Grasso ARTIFICIALIS (still), 2020 HD film 27 minutes, 33 seconds © Laurent Grasso / ADAGP, Paris, courtesy: the artist and Sean Kelly, New York/Los Angeles

installation view of Laurent Grasso: Artificialis at Sean Kelly, New York, October 25 – December 21, 2024 | photography: Adam Reich, courtesy: Sean Kelly, New York/Los Angeles

installation view of Laurent Grasso: Artificialis at Sean Kelly, New York, October 25 – December 21, 2024 | photography: Adam Reich, courtesy: Sean Kelly, New York/Los Angeles

installation view of Laurent Grasso: Artificialis at Sean Kelly, New York, October 25 – December 21, 2024 | photography: Adam Reich, courtesy: Sean Kelly, New York/Los Angeles

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installation view of Laurent Grasso: Artificialis at Sean Kelly, New York, October 25 - December 21, 2024 | photography: Adam Reich, courtesy: Sean Kelly, New York/Los Angeles

installation view of Laurent Grasso: Artificialis at Sean Kelly, New York, October 25 - December 21, 2024 | photography: Adam Reich, courtesy: Sean Kelly, New York/Los Angeles

installation view of Laurent Grasso: Artificialis at Sean Kelly, New York, October 25 - December 21, 2024 | photography: Adam Reich, courtesy: Sean Kelly, New York/Los Angeles

installation view of Laurent Grasso: Artificialis at Sean Kelly, New York, October 25 - December 21, 2024 | photography: Adam Reich, courtesy: Sean Kelly, New York/Los Angeles

Laurent Grasso, Studies into the Past oil on wood painting: 27 1/2 x 39 1/3 x 1 9/10 inches © Laurent Grasso / ADAGP, Paris, courtesy: the artist and Sean Kelly, New York/Los Angeles

Laurent Grasso, Studies into the Past oil on wood painting: 27 1/2 x 39 1/3 x 1 9/10 inches © Laurent Grasso / ADAGP, Paris, courtesy: the artist and Sean Kelly, New York/Los Angeles

Laurent Grasso, Studies into the Past oil on wood painting: 13 3/4 x 19 11/16 x 1 3/4 inches © Laurent Grasso / ADAGP, Paris, courtesy: the artist and Sean Kelly, New York/Los Angeles

Laurent Grasso, Studies into the Past, oil on wood painting: 13 3/4 x 19 11/16 x 1 3/4 inches © Laurent Grasso / ADAGP, Paris, courtesy: the artist and Sean Kelly, New York/Los Angeles

project info:

name: Artificialis
artist: Laurent Grasso | @laurentgrasso
location: Sean Kelly Gallery | @seankellygallery in New York
dates: 25 October – 21 December 2024