The enigma of human life and what comes next are the subject of Marguerite Humeau’s wide-ranging practice. Exploring what she describes as “the consciousness of our death as individuals and as a species,” Humeau’s sculptures and works on paper present a series of speculative forms and models that she imagines might emerge in a post-Anthropocene world. The Guardian of Termitomyces takes the form of a totem, based on the termite mounds built through collective cooperation, which the artist sees as a guide to “navigate our futures.”
“All the worlds I am creating are based on real facts,” Humeau explains. “They are based on mysteries that I am trying to understand. I am extracting real things, and then expanding into ‘what if?’ scenarios. It comes from prototyping worlds that are invisible or extinct, or parallel to ours. They might exist, but we don’t really know about them.” This process of enquiry draws on meticulous research, and past projects have enlisted the collaboration of experts including scientists, historians, anthropologists, paleontologists, zoologists, explorers, linguists and engineers.
Solo exhibitions of her work have been held at Lafayette Anticipations, Paris; Kunstverein Hamburg; Museion, Bolzano; New Museum, New York; Tate Britain, London; and Palais de Tokyo, Paris. Humeau’s work has been featured in numerous group exhibitions, including the Hayward Gallery, Southbank Centre, London; Kunsthalle Basel; the Istanbul Biennial; and Centre Pompidou, Paris. Humeau’s work was included in the 59th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia curated by Cecilia Alemani and the 23rd Biennale of Sydney (both 2022). In 2023, Humeau created the 160-acre earthwork Orisons in San Luis Valley, Colorado, one of the largest earthworks ever produced by a solo female artist. It was curated and produced by Black Cube Nomadic Art Museum, headquartered in Denver.
[excerpted from White Cube website: www.whitecube.com]
