Born in 1980 in Algiers, Algeria. Lives and works in France.
Massinissa Selmani tries all kinds of experiments that drawing allows. It is characterized by an extreme simplicity – often presenting montages of images and drawings, or short animations in which he mingles humor, irony, and sometimes a sense of revolt. Massinissa’s images reveal the ambiguities of the signs and push their juxtapositions until absurdity. The subjects of his works are often sourced from political news, social news and press clippings. The images that they show are the results of a selection process, treatment and cropping inspired by the archive and documentary codes. Sometimes they create a mise en scene or a narrative that opens up various experimentation fields.
Presented at the 56th Venice Biennale (All the World’s Future, curated by Okwui Enwezor, 2015), Massinissa Selmani received a special mention from the jury. In 2016, He was the tenth winner of the Art [] Collector Prize (Paris) and the Sam Art Projects Prize (Paris).
The work of Massinissa Selmani has been recently exhibited at: the CCC of Tours (2015), the first triennial of Vendôme, France (2015), the Dakar Biennial (2014), the 13th Lyon Biennial (2015), Art Basel Statements (Selma Feriani Gallery, 2016), La Maison Salvan, France (2016), Zachęta National Gallery of Art, Poland (2016), the 13th Sharjah Biennial (2017) and Frac Centre, France (2017).
Represted by Galerie Anne-Sarah Bénichou (Paris) and Selma Ferinai Gallery (London/Tunis).
Education
DNSEP, Ecole supérieure des beaux-arts de Tours. Tours, France
DNAP, Ecole supérieure des beaux-arts de Tours. Tours, France
DNAP, Ecole supérieure des beaux-arts de Tours. Tours, France
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Selected exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions
2017
The pace of the outsides, Akinci Gallery, Amsterdam.
Même dans la pierre, il y a du sable. Galerie de l’Etrave, Thonon-les-bains (Fr). Curated by Philippe Piguet.
Le vent ne veut jamais rester dehors. Selma Feriani gallery, Tunis.
2016
Bleu comme une orange, Art [ ] Collector Prize, Paris. Curated by Catherine David.
L’horizon était là, Maison Salvan, Labège (Fr).
2015
Centre de création contemporaine Olivier Debré CCCOD, Tours. France.
2013
L’usine ne fait pas les nuages, Talmart gallery, Paris.
L’Allure des choses, Mamia Bretesché gallery , Paris.
2011
L’Octroi, Tours, France.
à côté! Le Volapuk, Tours, France.
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Group exhibition
2017
Un monde in-tranquille, Group show, Abbaye Saint André – CAC Meymac. Fr.
Réparations. Frac Centre (Fr). Curated by Abdelkader Damani.
I want ! I want!: Art & Technology. Birmingham Museum and Art. Curated by Deborah smith.
13ème Biennale de sharjah, EAU. Curated by Christine Tohmé.
Drawing Biennial 2017. The Drawing Room, London, UK.
Dans mes mains, dans mes rêves même. Patio Opéra, Paris. Curated by Mehdi-Georges Lahlou.
Art Paris. (Galerie 8+4 / Bernard Chauveau).
2016
Social Calligraphies, Zachęta National Gallery, Poland. Curated by Magda Kardasz.
Art Basel, Selma Feriani Gallery.
Art [ ] Collector 5×2, Patio Opéra, Paris. Curated by Philippe Piguet
Stand Up! Dak’art Off 2016, Senegal.
Drawing Now, Paris. (Selma Feriani Gallery)
Art Dubaï, UAE. (Selma Feriani Gallery)
Art Dubaï Projects 2016. Curated by Yasmina Reggad.
Zona Maco, Mexico DF. (Yam Gallery)
2015
La vie moderne, 13th biennale de Lyon. Curated by Ralph Rugoff.
Double take, Nature Morte Gallery, New Delhi. Curated by Diana C. Betancourt.
PARÉIDOLIE, Salon International du Dessin Contemporain à Marseille. (Karima Celestin gallery).
All the world’s futures , 56th Venice Biennale. Curated by Okwui Onwezor.
1st Triennale de Vendôme, France. Curated by Nadège Piton, Erik Noulette and Damien Sausset.
DDessin, Paris Contemporary Drawing Art Fair.
Dessine-moi une vidéo, Karima Celestin gallery, Marseille.
Carte blanche, Officine dell’immagine gallery, Milan, Italy. Curated by Silvia Cirelli.
1 :54 Contemporaray African art Fair. (Primo Marella Gallery).
2014
Singapore Art Fair, MENA Pavillon. Curated by Catherine David.
Singapore Art Fair. (Mamia Bretesché gallery).
Subliminaloops, Les Arteliers de la sources, Orléans, France.
Walk under the same sky, Yam Gallery, SMA, Mexico.
Intervening Space : From the ultimate to the world, The Mosaic Rooms, London. Curated by Yasmina Reggad.
Produire le commun, Dak’art biennale, Senegal. Curated by Elise Atangana, Smooth Ugochukwu NZEWI and Abdelkader Damani.
Dibujos; Geografìa Variables, Yam Gallery, Mexico.
DDessin, Paris Contemporary Drawing Fair, Atelier Richelieu, Paris. (Talmart gallery).
Du point à la ligne, Mamia Bretesché gallery , Paris.
Portrait Redux, Selma Feriani gallery, Tunis.
2013
Art Connections, Brasov, Roumania.
(One) hope map, Hallen Belfort, Brugge, Belgium. Curated by Michel DeWilde.
Group show, French institute, Annaba, Algeria.
2012
Festival Alternative, Belgrade, Serbia.
Group show, French institute, Oran, Algéria.
Limonaïa, Musée des beaux-arts de Tours, France. Curated by Marie-Claude Valentin and Ghislain Lauverjat.
Group show, French institute, Algiers, Algéria.
Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Paris.
Place aux 14 janvier, Talmart Gallery, Paris.
Faire Face, Galerie contemporaine de la ville de Chinon. Curated by Dominique Marchès.
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2011
Le jasmin l’emportera, théâtre Jean Vilar, Vitry-Sur-Seine.
Habiter la terre, international biennial of contemporary art, Melle, France. Curated by Dominique Truco.
Visions nocturnes, Musée des beaux arts de Tours, France.
Petits formats, Tours, France.
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Awards / Grants
SAM Art Projects 2016 Prize. Paris, 2016.
10th Art [ ] Collector award, Paris, 2016.
Spécial mention, 56th Venice Biennale, 2015.
Bourse d’aide à la création Drac centre, 2013.
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Residencies
Veduta Residency, 13th Biennale de Lyon, 2015.
Studio Perro Bravo, Mexico DF. Invited by Yam Gallery, SMA, Mexique.
L’Octroi, Tours (France), 2011. With the support of Mode D’emploi, Tours.
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Talks, conferences
2016
Drawing Now Paris, interview with Philippe Piguet.
2015
1:54 Forum, London.
Frac Champagne-Ardenne, France.
ESAD Orléans, France.
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Publications (selection)
Catalogs
2017
13th Sharjah Biannial.
2016
Digital Monograph, Naima Editions, Paris.
Monograph, Art [ ]Collector Prize, Paris.
2015
13th biennale de Lyon,
56th Venice Biennale.
1st Triennale de Vendôme.
2014
Intervening Space : From the ultimate to the world, London. Text by Yasmina Reggad.
Intervening Space : From the ultimate to the world, London. Text by Yasmina Reggad.
2013
(One) Hope Map.
2012
Limonaïa, text by Jérôme Diacre.
Limonaïa, text by Jérôme Diacre.
2011
Habiter la terre, international biennial of contemporary art, Melle, France. Texte by Dominique Truco
Habiter la terre, international biennial of contemporary art, Melle, France. Texte by Dominique Truco
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Press (selection)
2016
Art Press N 432, Massinissa Selmani, between comedy and tragedy.
Art Press N 432, Massinissa Selmani, between comedy and tragedy.
Revue l’oeil, Mars 2016, portrait by Philippe Piguet.
Revue Jef Kalk, 1000 villages, Massinissa Selmani.
2015
Art Forum – Biennale on the brink.
France Culture – Les carnets de la création, Massinissa Selmani
Le Monde Afrique – Les cinq artistes africains de l’année 2015.
Sock-studio.com – Collapsing Utopia: Massinissa Selmani’s “1000 Villages” and the Failed Algerian Agrarian Revolution of 1973
Diptyk N28 – Venise sera-t-elle africaine ?
Le quotidien de l’art N°902 – Chambre avec vue, Massinissa Selmani.
Contemporary And – Drawing : A modest medium ? C& talks to artist Massinissa Selmani.
Le Monde Afrique – A coups de crayons, Massinissa Selmani désamorce la violence.
Tafmag – Massinissa Selmani dessine l’absurdité de la vie à partir de photos de presse
De(s)génétations N°22 – Penser avec l’Afrique.
Les cahiers de l’Orient – Entretien avec Massinissa Selmani – Anastasia Rostan
Revue Laura (Hors Série, Mai 2015) – Massinissa Selmani ou le bloc-notes magique.
2014
Euronews.com – Paris’s blue dog and wall of separation.
L’expression (DZ) – Massinissa Selmani, l’usine ne fait pas les nuages.
Arts Hebdo Medias – Massinissa Selmani, text by Samantha Deman.
Actuart.org – Massinissa Selmani, l’usine ne fait pas les nuages.
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Collections :
Art [ ]Collector, Paris.
Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris.
Frac Centre, France.
Samdani Art Foundation, Bangladesh.