Fabien Vaissière

After studying geology and biology, supplemented by a program in the humanities focusing on cartography and regional studies, Fabien Vaissière developed a minimalist and refined artistic practice using raw materials.

Immersed in the chaotic geology of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and the pure, minimalist language of vast, rugged landscapes, the artist gathers mineral and plant materials from mountain veins, riverbeds, alpine forests, and hillsides. Through its opportunistic nature, this gathering allows for the thrill of discovery along the way, thus countering humanity’s domineering logic over its environment. In this way, he seeks to reconnect with the nomadic philosophy of the gatherer, who can accumulate only what his bag allows. He then records the geographic coordinates of the collected materials and creates a short sound recording that transports the work into another dimension and completes the archive of the collection. This documentation, inspired by the scientific method, gives meaning to the process of sensory archiving: linking the work to the territory and questioning the value placed on natural materials, both scientifically and speculatively.

The artist has been exhibiting since 2015 in the South of France (Sisteron, Digne-les-Bains, Aix-en-Provence).

In 2016, Fabien Vaissière exhibited his photographs at the Espace Culturel d’Ornano, located within the Gallo-Roman Museum of Sisteron. Ten years later, the Ars Longa gallery is exhibiting his carved stone works—several of which are already held in private collections.