Artist

Matthieu Bourel

Archival imagery is dismantled and rebuilt to evoke nostalgia for eras that never existed.

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Works by Matthieu Bourel

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About Matthieu

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Matthieu Bourel is a self-taught French visual artist and musician living in Berlin. Drawing on a decade of experience as a film editor, he employs a technique he calls "data-ism," which blends traditional cut-and-paste collage with digital manipulation and animation. His practice focuses on deconstructing archival imagery and vintage Hollywood icons to explore themes of identity and memory. By layering silhouettes and fragmenting portraits, Bourel evokes nostalgia for nonexistent eras and constructs what he describes as "fake history." His work has earned recognition from the Society for News Design and has appeared in major publications like The New Yorker.

Visual voice

Bourel’s aesthetic is defined by the surgical deconstruction of mid-century portraiture and archival photography. He uses layered silhouettes and fragmented faces to create surreal compositions that feel like artifacts from a forgotten, fictional past.
Data-ismFragmented PortraitsLayered SilhouettesVintage Hollywood IconsDigital AnimationFake History

Good to Know

What defines Matthieu Bourel's "data-ism" style?

It is a method that combines traditional analog collage techniques with digital editing and animation to dismantle and rebuild archival images.

What are the primary themes in his collection?

Bourel explores identity, memory, and the concept of "fake history," often creating a sense of nostalgia for eras that never existed.

Where has his work been exhibited or published?

His art has appeared in The New Yorker and The New York Times, and was featured in the Exploring Desires exhibition in Berlin.

What is the artist's professional background?

Before becoming a visual artist and musician, Bourel spent ten years working as a film editor, which informs his approach to image manipulation and layering.

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