View works. Photo : Laurent Edeline © Le Clézio Gallery
Photo : Laurent Edeline © Le Clézio Gallery
View works

Life and Artistic Practice

Charles de Meaux was among the early artists to question the role of the medium in art-making, insisting that the medium is merely a tool for expressing ideas. He was one of the first to explore the intersection between cinema and contemporary art. His practice encompasses a wide range of formats, from experimental films to immersive video installations and large-scale urban artworks.

 

In 1997, he co-founded the influential production company Anna Sanders Films alongside Pierre Huyghe, Philippe Parreno, and Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster, with the goal of producing hybrid works at the crossroads of art and cinema.

 

Artistic Vision and Philosophy

De Meaux’s work often investigates the tension between fiction and reality, frequently employing science fiction as a lens. Landscape plays a central role in his narratives—not merely as a backdrop, but as an active protagonist. His practice interrogates art’s relevance in today’s world, exploring notions of alterity, environmental change, and how humans inhabit and perceive the Earth.

 

He is also committed to removing art from traditional institutional confines such as museums or cinemas. Notably, his work Bestiaire is a digital art installation only visible from within the metro tunnel in Rennes, France—accessible exclusively to subway passengers between two stations.

 

Key Works and Exhibitions

  • Le Pont du trieur (2000)
    A feature film co-directed with Philippe Parreno, shot in the Pamir mountains of Tajikistan.

  • Shimkent Hotel (2003)
    A narrative feature exploring the experiences of a group of young Europeans in Kazakhstan.

  • Stretch (2011)
    A cross-cultural film starring Fan Bingbing, set in the horse racing world of Macau.

  • Le Portrait interdit (2017)
    A period drama featuring Fan Bingbing and Melvil Poupaud, focusing on an 18th-century Chinese court painter.

  • Alien Intelligence is Coming from Earth (2002)
    A large-scale aquatic video installation permanently housed at the Busan Museum of New Media Art in South Korea.

  • You Should Be the Next Astronaut (2004)
    A short film presented on the big screens of Times Square, New York.

  • Le Train Fantôme (2014)
    An installation exhibited at the Centre Pompidou, inspired by architectural dynamics.

  • The Bird From the Future (2024)
    A multimedia installation shown at TANK Shanghai, exploring ecological collapse and speculative evolution.

 

Collaborations and Legacy

Charles de Meaux has maintained a long-standing collaboration with Thai director Apichatpong Weerasethakul, co-producing acclaimed films such as Tropical Malady (Jury Prize, Cannes 2004) and Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (Palme d’Or, Cannes 2010).

 

His works are held in prestigious collections including the Centre national des arts plastiques (CNAP), the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York, and the Busan Museum of New Media Art.

 

By dissolving the boundaries between artistic disciplines, Charles de Meaux has established himself as a unique voice in contemporary art and cinema. His work reflects a critical engagement with landscape, time, and narrative, rethinking how art can inhabit public and mental space in the 21st century.

 

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