Collectif Grapain

Sibling duo based between Paris and Hannover

contact@collectifgrapain.com
@collectif_grapain

13.02 – 01.03.2026: 69th Salon de Montrouge
Montrouge (FR)

Technological carrions

Is the technological world we live in much more material than it seems? This is the question that guides Maëva and Arnaud Grapain, siblings who formed an artistic collective after graduating from the Villa Arson in Nice. One of their latest works is entitled Back to the Future (2025) and was produced for Le Wonder, the community studio where they both work in Bobigny. This full-scale replica of the Back to the Future car is presented here as an archaeological discovery, covered in a clay-like, fibrous material, like an organism in decomposition. The raw material used to create the sculpture is the result of a careful process of recycling, with the artists now committed to producing works with minimal carbon footprints and in line with eco-design principles. This organic, stringy aesthetic is also at play in Ghost Fire (2024), a salvaged construction claw that transports us to a desolate landscape of industrial ruin, and again in Starlink (2021), a sculpture inspired by the satellites of the same name that now overpopulate the low orbit of our skies.

Whether the projects take the form of installations, photography or video, a sculptural logic always guides gestures. Indeed, for the film Sans Soleil [Sunless] (2024), the aim was to stage a highly aesthetic film-object in a nocturnal closed setting in which the objects and forms seem to be overcome by a strange affliction: irradiation in a toxic and overheated climate, in a world scorched by an increasingly sick and diminishing sun. This solar agony exacerbates what the artists call pyrolandscapes devoured by flames, incendiary scenes in which the materials melt in a reddening twilight. What kind of world might be reborn from that one? The question remains entirely open to a new apocalyptic imaginary.

In this respect, the spectral presence of nuclear energy is never far away. We can sense it in the blue light that occupies several installations, a direct reference to the Cherenkov glow of the radioactive pools in power plants. Carcasse 2, 3, 4 [Carcass 2, 3, 4] (2024) is a collection of pieces that the artists very powerfully describe as “technological carcasses,” all clothed in cables and hanging from motorised butcher hooks—somewhere between Rembrandt’s Le Bœuf écorché [Slaughtered Ox] (1655) and David Cronenberg’s eXistenZ (1999). It is here that we think of the physicality of the immaterial, about data centres and underwater cables carrying our digital interactions and the daily transmission of billions of images on social networks—everything that philosopher Peter Szendy has called “the supermarket of images,” this saturated and exponential economy, which, ultimately, is tremendously physical, polluting and heavy.

Text by Léa Bismuth & Traduction by Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

With the support of Région Île-de-France.

Solo Exhibitions (Selection)


2025	Aucun souvenir n’est à l’abri, Millénaire de Caen, Église Saint-Nicolas, Caen (FR) (duo show)
2024	Ghost Fire, KunstMuseum Moritzburg, Halle (DE)
2023	Left(L)overs, Robert Koepke Haus, Schwalenberg (DE)
	The Blue Hour, Tandem für Bildende Kunst, KulturGut Poggenhagen e.V., Poggenhagen (DE)
2021	Data Nudity, Kunstverein Die H_lle, Braunschweig (DE)
	Onkalo, Kö20, Hannover (DE)
2020	Urban Reef, Galerie Brutal, Hannover (DE)
2017	FBI: Federal Brueau of Investigation, Bazaar Compatible, Shanghai (CHN)

Group Exhibitions (Selection)


2026	69th Salon de Montrouge, Le Beffroi, Montrouge (FR)
2025	Preis der Nordwestkunst, Kunsthalle Wilhelmshaven, Wilhelmshaven (DE)
	Simulacra, 21st ADAF Festival, Technopolis, Athens (GR)
	Nuit Blanche, Le Wonder, Bobigny (FR)
	CREA Art Prize, CREA Art Center, Venice (IT)
	Amaral Cocas, Le Wonder x Art Basel, Bobigny (FR)
	Iso-It, Self Storage-MyPlace, Potsdam (DE)
	Sabbat & Sabayon, Le Wonder, Bobigny (FR)
2024	Lunulae, CAC Brétigny, Brétigny-sur-Orges (FR)
	As The Sharp Narrative Fades, a Revealing Map Emerges, Gallery Chosun, Seoul (KR)
	The Curse of an Unstoppable Appetite, Greenlight Triennale, Spriten Kunsthall, Skien (NO)
	Liquidation Totale, Pal Project Gallery, Paris (FR)
	Viva Arrabal, Film screening Sans Soleil [Sunless], Théâtre de la Cartoucherie, Vincennes (FR)
	Short Video, Big Energy, Film screening Sans soleil [Sunless], Le 6b, Saint-Denis (FR)
	Bobinite Bobibot, Le Wonder, Bobigny (FR)
2023	Ring Ring Ring, Pal Project Gallery, Paris (FR)
	90. Herbstausstellung, Kunstverein Hannover, Hannover (DE)
	ReVisited, Hannover Re Foundation, Hannover (DE)
	Kollektivität, Speichern, Potsdam (DE)
2022	A Fragment of Eden, Kestner Gesellschaft, Hannover (DE)
	100% L’Expo, Grande Halle de la Villette, Paris (FR)
	Stipendium Junge Kunst, Städtische Galerie Eichenmüllerhaus, Lemgo (DE)
	Veiller, La Relève IV, Festival Parallèle, Buropolis, Marseille (FR)
	Et nous regardons ailleurs, Usine Utopik, Tessy-Bocage (FR)
	Teamwork, Schloss Agathenburg, Agathenburg (DE)
2021	89. Herbstausstellung, Kunstverein Hannover, Hannover (DE)
	Autres futurs, Centre d’arts Fernand Léger, Port-de-Bouc (FR)
	If We Opened People Up, We’d Find Landscapes, Artmx, Cologne (DE)
2020	Biete / Suche, Meta Copy & Niki Residency, Hannover (DE)
	I Am Not Always Where My Body Is, Kunstverein Braunschweig, Braunschweig (DE)
	CRAC 2020, 17th Biennale of Contemporary Art, Champigny-sur-Marne (DE)
	Meisterschüler 2020, Hannover Re Foundation, Hannover (DE)
2019	Juvenars Prize, IESA, Paris (FR)
	Festival OVNi, Centre d’art de la Villa Arson, Nice (FR)
	Tuer le soleil contre moi, Centre d’art de la Villa Arson & Le Dojo, Nice (FR)
	By Collectors, La Montgolfière, Paris (FR)
2018	Maif Prize for Sculpture, Maif Social Club, Paris (FR)
	Bazaaaar, Halle Roublot, Fontenay-sous-bois (FR)
	8th Young Creation Prize, L’Atelier Blanc, Saint-Rémy (FR)
2017	Rêvez !, Collection Lambert, Avignon (FR)
	Edge Water, Lnnd Studio, Shanghai (CHN)
	Opus Mixtum, Archaeological Museum of Cimiez, Nice (FR)
	Vertiges de l’esprit, Halle à Marée, Port-de-Bouc (FR)
	Hybrid’Art, Salon d’Art, Port-de-Bouc (FR)
2016	Resolution, Basement 6, Shanghai (CHN)
	San Lun Che, ReformerArt Gallery, Shanghai (CHN)
	¡ À propos !, Centre d’art de la Villa Arson, Nice (FR)
	¡ À propos ! #2, Galerie de la Marine, Nice (FR)
2015	Incertains Genres, Keramis, Centre de la Céramique, La Louvière (BE)
	16 Nuances de grès, Galerie Ygrec, Paris (FR)
	Visite poétique, Observatoire de Nice, Nice (FR)

Prizes / Grants (Selection)


2025	Eco-Design Art Prize, Art of Change 21 & Le Palais de Tokyo (FR)
2024	Ekphrasis Grant, Adagp, AICA France & Le Quotidien de l’art (FR)
	Gustav Weidanz Art Prize for Sculpture, Halle (DE)
2023	Creation Grant, DRAC Île-de-France (FR)
2022	Annual Grant des Landesverbandes Lippe (DE)
	Film Grant, Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Kultur (DE)
2021	Tandem für Bildende Kunst, Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Kultur (DE)
2020	Jahresstipendium Niedersachsen im Bereich für Bildende Künste, Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Kultur (DE)
	Young Curator Prize, Institut Français de Berlin (DE)
2019	DAAD Grant (DE)
2018	Maif Prize for Sculpture (FR)
	Kenza Foundation Grant x L’Institut de France (FR)
	Hybrid’Art Prize, Port-de-Bouc (FR)
2017	Prix d’excellence, Université Côte d’Azur (FR)

Studies


2020	HBK Braunschweig, Postgraduate Program (Meisterschülerin) w. Thomas Rentmeister, Braunschweig (Maëva) (DE)
2019	ENSA Villa Arson, DNSEP (Master II), Nice (Maëva) (FR)
2017	ENSAD Nancy (École Offshore) x SIVA Shanghai, Postgraduate Program «Art & Globalization» w. Paul Devautour, Shanghai (Arnaud) (CHN)
2016	ENSA Villa Arson, DNSEP (Master II), Nice (Arnaud) (FR)

Collections


2024	Collection départementale d’art contemporain de la Seine-Saint-Denis (FR)
2023	North Rhine-Westphalia Contemporary Art Collection (DE)
2021	Centre d’Art Fernand Léger, Port-de-Bouc (FR)
2020	Hannover Re Foundation, Hannover (DE)
2019	MAIF Foundation, Paris (FR)

Residencies (Selection)


2024	Telemark Art Center, Norges Bank, Skien (NO)
2023	Maison Julien Gracq, Ingrandes-le-Fresne-sur-Loire (FR)
	Robert Koepke Haus, Schwalenberg Lippe (DE)
	KulturGut Poggenhagen e.V., Poggenhagen (DE)
2022	Usine Utopik, Tessy-Bocage (FR)
2021	Centre d’Arts Fernand Léger, Port-de-Bouc (FR)

Publications (Selection)


2026	Salon de Montrouge 2026 — 69e édition, Slash Paris
2025	Le prix Art Éco-Conception dévoile ses lauréats 2025, The Art Newspaper
	Les 12 lauréats du prix Art Éco-conception, Le Quotidien de l’art
	Le prix Art Éco-Conception 2025, Art Majeur Magazine
	Les 12 lauréats du prix Art Éco-conception, La Gazette Drouot
	Here there be dragones, by Jill Gasparina, Le Quotidien de l’art
2024	The Curse of an Unstoppable Appetite, Greenlight Triennial, by Power Ekroth (exhibition catalog)
	Ghost Fire, Monopol Magazine
	Lunulae #4, Off Site Season, E-flux Article
2023	Left(L)overs, Robert Koepke Haus (catalog scholarship)
2022	La jeune garde expose à la Villette, Transfuge Magazine
	A Fragment of Eden - Fünf Fragen an Collectif Grapain, Offene Welten - Kestner Gesellschaft
	New Galactic, La sélection 100% L’Expo, Projets Media, The Steidz
	La Relève 4 : Une jeunesse artistique qui nous tient en éveil, Manifesto XXI
	L’Usine Utopik expose les « ailleurs » de 4 artistes, Ouest-France Magazine
	Frère et sœur, complicité à l’Usine Utopik, Ouest-France Magazine
2021	The Sacred in a Faulty Printer, by Krzysztof Honowski, KubaParis
	89th Herbstausstellung, by Michael Stoeber, Kunstverein Hannover (exhibition catalog)
	Studierende im Kunstverein Braunschweig – Kunst ist eine Hexerei, Monopol Magazin
2020	Visorama, Hannover Re Foundation (catalog scholarship)
2019	OVNi en ville, Parcours vidéos de jeunes artistes, Villa Arson
2018	Prix Maif pour la sculpture, Arts in the City
	Data Center, Arnaud Grapain, 11e Prix Maif pour la sculpture, Smarty Magazine
	Prix Maif pour la sculpture 2018, Le Quotidien de l’Art
	Arnaud Grapain, Prix Maif pour la sculpture, Art Press Magazine
	Arnaud Grapain, Prix Maif pour la sculpture 2018, Connaissance des Arts
	Arnaud Grapain Prix Maif 2018, The Art Newspaper Daily

With the support of Région Île-de-France.

Collectif Grapain - Bord de route [Roadside], 2023(rock wool, silkscreens printed with waste motor oil, aluminium) (1) 288 × 200 × 20 cmKollektivität, Speichern, Potsdam (DE)Photo: Matthias Bednasch(3) 300 × 210 × 20 cmMeisterschüler*innen 2020, Hannover Re Foundation, Hannover (DE)Photo: Hanna Jung

Collectif Grapain - Back to the Future, 2025(wood, clay, concrete blocks, straps, rusted sheet metal, long flax fibers) 500 × 300 × 250 cmNuit blanche, Le Wonder, Bobigny (FR)Photo: (1) Salim Santa Lucia (2) Léa Dedieu

Collectif Grapain - Sans soleil [Sunless], 2024(5.1 sound mix, 2.35:1 format, 6K resolution) Duration: 9 minutes (loop)The Curse of an Unstoppable Appetite, Greenlight Triennale, Spriten Kunsthall, Skien (NO)Co-production with The Desert Productions Photo: Tor Simen Ulstein

Collectif Grapain - Technomérat, 2024(rare earth elements from melted smartphone and computer components, lava stone, metal, blue plexiglas, LED panel)150 × 45 × 45 cmThe Curse of an Unstoppable Appetite, Greenlight Triennale, Spriten Kunsthall, Skien (NO), 2024Photo: Tor Simen Ulstein

Collectif Grapain - Ghost Fire, 2024(wood, rope, rock wool, plexiglass, blue foil, painted steel) 300 × 300 × 195 cmGhost fire, Gustav Weidanz Prize, KunstMuseum Moritzburg, Halle (DE) Photo: Michel Klehm

Collectif Grapain - Carcasse 1, 2, 3 [Carcass 1, 2, 3], 2024(meat hooks, black electric cables, black cable ties, painted steel, motors - background X-ray wallpaper) 165 × 30 × 60 cm eachGhost fire, Gustav Weidanz Prize, KunstMuseum Moritzburg, Halle (DE) Photo: Michel Klehm

Collectif Grapain - Pharmakon, 2024(steel, fat, silkscreen printed with waste motor oil, wheel) 130 × 45 × 45 cmGhost fire, Gustav Weidanz Prize, KunstMuseum Moritzburg, Halle (DE)Photo: Michel Klehm

Collectif Grapain - Carcasse [Carcass], 2023(wooden hut, black electric cables, black cable ties, steel, wax, bent I-beam, blue neon light, hoist trolley) 650 × 250 × 300 cmCarcasse, KulturGut, Poggenhagen (Germany)Photo: Volker Crone

Collectif Grapain - World Brain, 2023(ethernet cables, white electric cables, white cable ties, plexiglass, blue foil, steel) Variable dimensionsRevisited, Hannover Re Foundation, Hannover (DE)Photo: Hanna Jung

Collectif Grapain - Liberty First Grade Lubricant, 2023(aluminium racing panel, plexiglass, orange foil, petroleum jelly) 120 × 70 × 20 cmEt nous regardons ailleurs, Usine Utopik, Tessy-Boccage (FR)Photo: Collectif Grapain

Collectif Grapain - The Cherenkov Effect, 2022(wood, metal chain, thermoformed and tinted plexiglass, oyster mushroom grow bags, soil, smartphone application, solar panel, blue foil) 450 × 230 × 200 cmOffene Welten - A Fragment of Eden, Kestner Gesellschaft, Hannover (DE) Photo: Volker Crone

Collectif Grapain - Soleil vert [Green Sun], 2022(rock wool, wood, PVC tubes, pump, microalgae, seawater, neon light, electric cables, steel, bucket) Variable dimensionsAutres futurs, Art Center Fernand Léger, Port-de-Bouc, (FR) Photo: Julien Lamarre

Collectif Grapain - Starlink, 2021(rock wool, rope, wood, metal) 1000 × 400 × 200 cm89th Herbstausstellung, Kunstverein Hannover, Hannover (DE)Photo: Raimund Zakowski

Collectif Grapain - Data Center, 2021(white electric cables, white cable ties, varnished steel, gratings) 200 × 70 × 70 cm100% L'Expo, Grande Halle de la Villette, Paris (FR)Photo: Quentin Chevrier

Collectif Grapain - Basalte des mers [Sea Basalt], 2021(display case, wood, rock wool, rope, blue neon light) 150 × 150 × 180 cmOnkalo, Kö20, Hannover (DE)Photo: Sven Julien Kanclerski

Collectif Grapain - Data Nudity, 2021(black electric cables, black cable ties, computer rack, blue neon light, motor, meat hook) 200 × 84 × 84 cmOnkalo, Kö20, Hannover (DE)Photo: Collectif Grapain

Collectif Grapain - Mortes-vivaces [The Perennial Dead], 2020(varnished steel, horticultural LED, plexiglass, petroleum jelly, perennial plants, soil) 45 × 45 × 30 cmUrban reef, Galerie Brutal, Hannover (DE)Photo: Collectif Grapain

Collectif Grapain - Urban Reef, 2020(soil, plants, wood, clay, seeds, tarpaulin, horticultural neon light, long flax fibers) Variable dimensionsUrban Reef, Galerie Brutal, Hannover (DE) Photo: Collectif Grapain

Collectif Grapain - Data Center, 2019(bronze, black patina) Foundry Susse Paris200 × 45 × 45 cmMaif Prize for sculpture, Maif Social Club, Paris (FR)Photo: Olivier Moritz

Collectif Grapain - Post-flesh, 2019(sweat and copper scent* designed by Anais Fournial, acoustic foam, pink neon light, industrial drums, pipes, pump, 100L of oil, 100L of water, petroleum jelly) Variable dimensionsBazaaaar, Halle Roublot, Fontenay-sous-bois (FR)Photo: Matthieu Regnier

Collectif Grapain - X-ray, Since 2016(series of 7 dibond-mounted photographs, 1/7) 110 × 40 cm each

Collectif Grapain - Là ou naissent les nuages [Where the Clouds are Born], 2011(series of 10 aluminium-mounted photographs, 1/10, 2/10, 3/10) 68 × 45 cm

Bord de route [Roadside], 2023
(rock wool, silkscreens printed with waste motor oil, aluminium)
(1) 288 × 200 × 20 cm
Kollektivität, Speichern, Potsdam (DE)
Photo: Matthias Bednasch
(3) 300 × 210 × 20 cm
Meisterschüler*innen 2020, Hannover Re Foundation, Hannover (DE)
Photo: Hanna Jung

Back to the Future, 2025
(wood, clay, concrete blocks, straps, rusted sheet metal, long flax fibers)
500 × 300 × 250 cm
Nuit blanche, Le Wonder, Bobigny (FR)
Photo: (1) Salim Santa Lucia (2) Léa Dedieu

Sans soleil [Sunless], 2024
(5.1 sound mix, 2.35:1 format, 6K resolution)
Duration: 9 minutes (loop)
The Curse of an Unstoppable Appetite, Greenlight Triennale, Spriten Kunsthall, Skien (NO)
Co-production with The Desert Productions
Photo: Tor Simen Ulstein

Technomérat, 2024
(rare earth elements from melted smartphone and computer components, lava stone, metal, blue plexiglas, LED panel)
150 × 45 × 45 cm
The Curse of an Unstoppable Appetite, Greenlight Triennale, Spriten Kunsthall, Skien (NO), 2024
Photo: Tor Simen Ulstein

Ghost Fire, 2024
(wood, rope, rock wool, plexiglass, blue foil, painted steel)
300 × 300 × 195 cm
Ghost fire, Gustav Weidanz Prize, KunstMuseum Moritzburg, Halle (DE)
Photo: Michel Klehm

Carcasse 1, 2, 3 [Carcass 1, 2, 3], 2024
(meat hooks, black electric cables, black cable ties, painted steel, motors - background X-ray wallpaper)
165 × 30 × 60 cm each
Ghost fire, Gustav Weidanz Prize, KunstMuseum Moritzburg, Halle (DE)
Photo: Michel Klehm

Pharmakon, 2024
(steel, fat, silkscreen printed with waste motor oil, wheel)
130 × 45 × 45 cm
Ghost fire, Gustav Weidanz Prize, KunstMuseum Moritzburg, Halle (DE)
Photo: Michel Klehm

Carcasse [Carcass], 2023
(wooden hut, black electric cables, black cable ties, steel, wax, bent I-beam, blue neon light, hoist trolley)
650 × 250 × 300 cm
Carcasse, KulturGut, Poggenhagen (Germany)
Photo: Volker Crone

World Brain, 2023
(ethernet cables, white electric cables, white cable ties, plexiglass, blue foil, steel)
Variable dimensions
Revisited, Hannover Re Foundation, Hannover (DE)
Photo: Hanna Jung

Liberty First Grade Lubricant, 2023
(aluminium racing panel, plexiglass, orange foil, petroleum jelly)
120 × 70 × 20 cm
Et nous regardons ailleurs, Usine Utopik, Tessy-Boccage (FR)
Photo: Collectif Grapain

The Cherenkov Effect, 2022
(wood, metal chain, thermoformed and tinted plexiglass, oyster mushroom grow bags, soil, smartphone application, solar panel, blue foil)
450 × 230 × 200 cm
Offene Welten - A Fragment of Eden, Kestner Gesellschaft, Hannover (DE)
Photo: Volker Crone

Soleil vert [Green Sun], 2022
(rock wool, wood, PVC tubes, pump, microalgae, seawater, neon light, electric cables, steel, bucket)
Variable dimensions
Autres futurs, Art Center Fernand Léger, Port-de-Bouc, (FR)
Photo: Julien Lamarre

Starlink, 2021
(rock wool, rope, wood, metal)
1000 × 400 × 200 cm
89th Herbstausstellung, Kunstverein Hannover, Hannover (DE)
Photo: Raimund Zakowski

Data Center, 2021
(white electric cables, white cable ties, varnished steel, gratings)
200 × 70 × 70 cm
100% L'Expo, Grande Halle de la Villette, Paris (FR)
Photo: Quentin Chevrier

Basalte des mers [Sea Basalt], 2021
(display case, wood, rock wool, rope, blue neon light)
150 × 150 × 180 cm
Onkalo, Kö20, Hannover (DE)
Photo: Sven Julien Kanclerski

Data Nudity, 2021
(black electric cables, black cable ties, computer rack, blue neon light, motor, meat hook)
200 × 84 × 84 cm
Onkalo, Kö20, Hannover (DE)
Photo: Collectif Grapain

Mortes-vivaces [The Perennial Dead], 2020
(varnished steel, horticultural LED, plexiglass, petroleum jelly, perennial plants, soil)
45 × 45 × 30 cm
Urban reef, Galerie Brutal, Hannover (DE)
Photo: Collectif Grapain

Urban Reef, 2020
(soil, plants, wood, clay, seeds, tarpaulin, horticultural neon light, long flax fibers)
Variable dimensions
Urban Reef, Galerie Brutal, Hannover (DE)
Photo: Collectif Grapain

Data Center, 2019
(bronze, black patina)
Foundry Susse Paris
200 × 45 × 45 cm
Maif Prize for sculpture, Maif Social Club, Paris (FR)
Photo: Olivier Moritz

Post-flesh, 2019
(sweat and copper scent* designed by Anais Fournial, acoustic foam, pink neon light, industrial drums, pipes, pump, 100L of oil, 100L of water, petroleum jelly)
Variable dimensions
Bazaaaar, Halle Roublot, Fontenay-sous-bois (FR)
Photo: Matthieu Regnier

X-ray, Since 2016
(series of 7 dibond-mounted photographs, 1/7)
110 × 40 cm each

Là ou naissent les nuages [Where the Clouds are Born], 2011
(series of 10 aluminium-mounted photographs, 1/10, 2/10, 3/10)
68 × 45 cm