“Art should look behind things rather than implying a relationship with reality.”
Andreas Gursky (Art Now, Taschen, 2002)
In her art, Christelle Mas explores the relationship between reality and technology as well as the significance of the scientific and technological revolution for current world views. Her works show how technological changes affect and shape our perceptions of reality. The dual, fascinating, controversial and even questionable nature of technology has always been a challenge. We are constantly creating new ways of looking at things in order to explore the universe and our understanding of ourselves. Modern technology puts us in a constant stream of images, in a closed world that we have not seen before. Scientific and technological photography is constantly being developed and improved to get closer to what is still unattainable, to visualize the invisible and to make the incomprehensible more comprehensible. In the world of science, photography can above all highlight the relativity of the visible. Simulations created with the help of technological equipment place a person in a fictional reality and go beyond human perception. This shakes our view of reality. At the same time, it makes our environment both real and virtual.
The artist’s works explore the way in which technology is linked to the changes in the environment, society and culture. She examines photography as a medium and technology and the concept of truth in relation to a photograph. Through her works, she reveals something invisible and highlights the relativity of visibility. She creates fascinating worlds in which science and mythology as well as natural and artificial meet.
Christelle Mas creates photographic works and collages by utilizing high technology that enables a new way of creating images without a traditional camera. She collaborates with Biocenter Oulu, allowing her to use four different 3D microscopes: a scanning electron microscope, light microscope, tomography microscope and microtomography microscope. She uses them to photograph samples of bacteria, insects, fish and animals, such as snakes. The required processing of the samples is also done in cooperation with the University of Oulu. After using the microscopes, she edits the images with scientific computer programs developed for professionals. This process is done under the guidance of researchers from Biocenter Oulu. She chooses the colors, composition, amount of light and imaging distance. She also creates short videos of the material. She prints the images on photographic paper and, if necessary, draws on them and cuts them with scissors to create some kind of hybrid creatures. By combining images, she creates collage characters that remotely resemble animals with strong and saturated colors. The works lie somewhere between natural and artificial.
Arts Promotion Centre Finland and City of Oulu, thank you for your support. Biocenter Oulu, thank you for the collaboration.
Christelle Mas (b. 1984) is a French artist who lives and works in Oulu. In her works, she combines photographs with drawings and installations. She has a Master of Arts degree and a bachelor’s degree in the philosophy of art from Sorbonne University in Paris. Her works have been on display at various solo and joint exhibitions in Finland and abroad. In addition to private collections, her works are included in the collections of the Oulu Art Museum and Kemi Art Museum. Mas is a member of the Finnish Bioart Society and has worked as a photography teacher in Oulu since 2012.
