Born in 1980 in Algiers, Algeria. Lives and works in France and Algeria.
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 Palais de Tokyo, Paris (2018), 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).
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
Ce qui coule n’a pas de fin. SAM Art Projects Prize, Palais de Tokyo, Paris. Curated by Yoann Gourmel.
Episodes. Itinéraires Graphiques du Pays de Lorient, École européenne supérieure d’art de Bretagne – Lorient, France.
2017
Les choses que vous faites m’entourent. Galerie Anne-Sarah Bénichou, Paris
Même dans la pierre, il y a du sable. Galerie de l’Etrave, Thonon-Les-Bains, France. Curated by Philippe Piguet.
Le vent ne veut jamais rester dehors. Selma Feriani gallery, Tunis.
2016
Bleu comme une orange. Art [ ] Collector Prize, Patio Opéra, Paris. Curated by Catherine David.
L’horizon était là. Maison Salvan, Labège, France. Curated by Paul de Sorbier.
2015
Centre de création contemporaine Olivier Debré (CCC OD), 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.
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
Drawing Lab: Cinéma d’été. Drawing Lab, Paris.
FIAC. Paris. (Selma Feriani Gallery).
Marcher dans le rêve d’un autre. Biennale d’architecture d’Orléans. Frac Centre, France. Curated by Abdelkader Damani and Luca Galofaro.
Drawing Biennial 2017. The Drawing Room, London, UK.
I want ! I want!: Art & Technology. Birmingham Museum and Art. Curated by Deborah smith.
Mouvements. Salle des Pavillons, Lyon. In collaboration with Veduta, biennale de Lyon 2017.
The intimate ennemy. Pelagica studio and gallery, Milan. Curated by Pelagica.
The pace of the outsides. Duo show with Albrecht Schnider, Akinci Gallery, Amsterdam.
Un monde in-tranquille. Abbaye Saint André – CAC Meymac. Fr.
Paréidolie. Salon international du dessin contemporain, Marseille. (Galerie Anne-Sarah Bénichou).
Dans mes mains. dans mes rêves même. Patio Opéra, Paris.
Art Paris. (Galerie 8+4 / Bernard Chauveau).
Zona Maco, Mexico DF. (Yam Gallery)
1 :54. Contemporaray African art Fair. (Primo Marella Gallery).
Subliminaloops. Les Arteliers de la sources, Orléans, France.
Group show, French institute, Annaba, Algeria.
Faire Face. Galerie contemporaine de la ville de Chinon. Curated by Dominique Marchès.
Petits formats. Tours, France.
EDUCATION
DNSEP, Ecole supérieure des beaux-arts de Tours. Tours, France
DNAP, Ecole supérieure des beaux-arts de Tours. Tours, France
AWARDS / GRANTS
Art [ ] Collector Prize, Paris.
Special mention, 56th Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy.
Bourse d’aide à la création Drac centre, France.
RESIDENCIES
L’Octroi, Tours (France), 2011. With the support of Mode D’emploi, Tours.
TALKS / CONFERENCES
Panel conversation, Modern Art Oxford, UK.
Galerie de l’étrave, Thonon-les-bains, France.
Drawing Now Paris. Talk with Philippe Piguet.
ESAD Orléans, France.
PUBLICATIONS (selection)
CATALOGS
Ce qui coule n’a pas de fin. solo exhibition’s catalog. With the support of SAM Art Projects.
Tamawuj. 13th Sharjah Biannial.
Monograph, Art [ ]Collector Prize, Paris.
1st Triennale de Vendôme.
2014
Intervening Space : From the ultimate to the world, London. Texts by Yasmina Reggad and Ali MacGilp
(One) Hope Map.
2012
Limonaïa, text by Jérôme Diacre.
2011
Habiter la terre, international biennial of contemporary art, Melle, France. Text by Dominique Truco
PRESS (selection)
Revue l’oeil, February 2018 : Massinissa Selmani – Énigme et histoire. Portrait by Philippe Piguet.
Délibéré.fr: Massinissa Selmani makes it visible. Text by Nina Leger.
Art Press N 432, Massinissa Selmani, between comedy and tragedy.
Revue Jef Kalk, 1000 villages, Massinissa Selmani.
Revue Laura (Hors Série, Mai 2015) – Massinissa Selmani ou le bloc-notes magique.
Actuart.org – Massinissa Selmani, l’usine ne fait pas les nuages.
COLLECTIONS