video artist

thomas blanchard

Already presented and rightly celebrated at several exhibitions, the French video artist Thomas Blanchard literally gives us very close insights into his vivid and moving pictures full of colours, liquids, and experimental creations.

The Sturgheons: First, please tell us a little bit about yourself! Who are you, where are you from, what do you do? 

Thomas Blanchard: I'm Thomas Blanchard, a French video artist who likes to explore themes and mix the arts. My work has been featured in various festivals and exhibitions around the world, such as the Casablanca Biennale of Contemporary Art in 2016, the Artechouse Art Center in Washington DC, the New York Spring Studio, New York One World Tower and the Museum of Contemporary Art, KMCA from Seoul or at the Atelier des Lumières de Paris.

How did it start with your artwork and your interest in fluids and filmmaking? Were or are there still certain inspirations?

I am 36 years old and I have been making videos for 16 years now. I love to explore all the arts and genres of video. You could say that I have tried many things. One day, I tried to work on liquids filmed in macro, and I became passionate about this discipline. I really like the movie "Pleasantville" which talks about the importance of color. It is a beautiful film in black and colors. I would say that this film inspired me.

With which attributes would you describe your artwork and your style of making films?

I would first say "relaxing" and "soothing" following numerous messages from psychologists who contacted me for this reason. The psychologists think my experimental visuals based on inks and paints could be therapeutic. Why not.

How are your works created? Can you please tell us about the processes and the materials you use?

Well, everything is filmed in macro with a 100 mm macro Canon lens and a 65 mm macro canon mpe lens. Whether for insects, flowers, or paint fluids. For the experimentation of liquids, everything you see big fits in the palm of your hand. I use inks and paints which I mix with oil. I move the liquids with household products that will repel the fat.

Do you always have a plan in mind or a concept you want to realize? And is there a difference then between commisioned works and private works?

With liquids, it's always very complicated to have the movements and shapes that we want precisely. We must leave luck to chance. But for professional projects, we work with a flamiste graphic artist who manipulates the images to resemble customer requests. We had created butterfly wings for a big telephone brand thanks to this technique. 

Can you do storyboards before filming or are your films always a product of coincidence of unpredictable fluids?

Of course, we create storyboards for professional projects. For personal projects, I leave it to chance.

How much time does it usually take to get the final shot, to be satisfied with the result, and to know the work is done?

It depends. A project can take a few days or several months to complete. I am currently working on a timelapse video. I let the fruits and vegetables rot. Without a doubt, the shooting will take several months.

Are you still experimenting with new materials or objects? If so, what criteria do you use to decide?

At the moment, as I said above, I work with fruits and vegetables. But I am also working on a project of ice domes containing small objects evoking memories. I now try to bring it to a story, an analogy, a playful meaning. What I didn't do before today.

How important is music for your artworks?

For me, music and images must be one. I've been working on it even more since a few videos. I ask Alexis Dehimi if he can get closer to the music of Brian Eno or Harold Budd. I like it when music evokes textures. I like deep ambiances.

Why do you choose Alexis to work with? What do you like about his work?

I work with Alexis, already because he is gifted, but he is also open to experimentation. My images seem to speak to him. It is important that he feels the emotions of the images to be able to interpret them in music. I would like to give him a little more freedom of decision next time, for the next project.

What are your next topics or projects? 

The time-lapses on fruits and vegetables but I can not say more.

What do beauty and aesthetics mean to you?

Difficult question, it is so subjective and random according to the moments. I pay more attention to creativity than to the beauty of images. But to answer it, I like minimalist visuals.

www.thomas-blanchard.com

France, May 2020. | Interview by The Sturgheons with Thomas Blanchard. | Videos by Thomas Blanchard.

This clip by Aedan takes us into the world of the infinitely small and highlights another vision of evolution. Evolution is an exercise in patience and observation that the master of macro, here director, masters to perfection. Weeks of filming in a vacuum with a plethora of insects and plants to better understand their mechanism and interactions. The result is a striking spectacle where one can observe life with a new eye. Directed by Ekitaimacro | Thomas Blanchard. Co-produced by Ekitaimacro | Thomas Blanchard Greenlight Films | Paul Mignot and Léa Morel. Music by ÆDAN | « Evolution ».

ÆDAN – « Le Temps » (Official Music Video). No FX, just shooting with inks. Directed by Ekitaimacro | Thomas Blanchard. Music by ÆDAN | « Le Temps ».

« The Empire of C » is an experimental dreamlike video rocking us smoothly through circular moves. The visual compositions have been created out of paint, oil, and soap liquid. No FX, just shooting with inks & paintings. Directed by Ekitaimacro | Thomas Blanchard. Co-produced by Ekitaimacro | Thomas Blanchard Greenlight Films | Paul Mignot and Léa Morel. Music by Velvet Coffee | Leonardo Villiger and Christophe Dugne Esquevin.

« Le Temps et l’Espace » is an experimental video made with inks and paints on an infinitely small surface which gives an impression of spatial immensity. Slow and contemplative, we can take the time to see the material transform and move in circular motions. The music produced by Alexis Dehimi is meant to be immersive in order to fully enter this journey of a few minutes. Directed by Ekitaimacro | Thomas Blanchard. Co-produced by Ekitaimacro | Thomas Blanchard Greenlight Films | Paul Mignot and Léa Morel. Music by Alexis Dehimi | Mars Octobre Music.

"Breathe. Quarantine Logbook" containment project of Thomas Blanchard and Alexis Dehimi. After the announcement of Coronavirus containment following the Covid 19 pandemic which concerns us all, Thomas decided to create a project on breathing. Covid 19 is a disease that, in the worst case, infects the lungs. Thinking about this situation Thomas wanted to work on the current context and he created an analogy between the lungs (which symbolize breathing) and the rotting fruits, vegetables, flowers and ice domes. By creating a motion loop, this gives the impression that food and flowers are breathing like lungs. Coronavirus containment deprives us of many activities. We stay at home and take care as best we can. The video games of the 70's/80's was a hobby during the health containment and Thomas had to put them. He reinterpreted Tetris, Super Mario bros, Pac Mac, Space invaders and Breakout with timelapses. Each product has been photographed every 10 minutes for several days or weeks, except for the ice cream and ice domes which has melted in 75 minutes. Music time is based on the average heartbeat that a human has when he runs out of air and the lack of oxygen creates an emergency in the whole body. Human beings have a vital need for oxygen. Oxygen largely offered by plants and the oceans. Thomas wanted to pay a sound homage to plants by integrating in the production of captions of various vegetables for the interpretation of percussion by treating their sounds with synthesis and sound design. Director: Thomas Blanchard​​​​​​​. Music by Alexis Dehimi | Mars Octobre Music.