Discover the contemporary work of MB·d·Art
Maël Bathfield is an artist whose career defies conventional categorization, blending scientific rigor with boundless imagination. Although Maël Bathfield humbly hesitates to fully embrace the label of “artist”, his work reveals a creative spirit that transcends traditional boundaries. His path to the art world is unconventional, as it draws not on formal artistic training, but on a deep curiosity and commitment to exploring the interfaces between science, photography, and digital manipulation.
Mr. Bathfield’s background in chemistry, which he earned a PhD in 2006, informs much of his artistic process. His early explorations of 360° panoramic photography in 2008 marked the beginning of a shift from scientific research to creative experimentation. These forays into the visual arts are characterized by a sense of play and a willingness to experiment—qualities that would later become fundamental to his artistic practice.
In 2020, he began to explore digital techniques for creative image manipulation, transforming photographs into images that blur the boundary between reality and imagination. His work manipulating images served as technical preparation for his later project, the series “Fantasmagoric Bestiary.” This series, which marks his artistic evolution, illustrates his approach to creativity: serendipity plays a crucial role, but it is accompanied by a desire to explore and exploit the unexpected.
Maël Bathfield's scientific background is also evident in his methodical approach to art. The shift from active research in chemistry to a growing interest in the history and philosophy of science underscores a broader intellectual curiosity, which is reflected in his art. This multidisciplinary perspective enriches his work, giving it a depth that is as intellectually stimulating as it is visually intriguing.
As a French artist who has lived and worked in different regions, from La Réunion to Montpellier, his geographical and cultural experiences enrich his artistic vision. His recent installation in Pays Viganais, southwest of the Cévennes, marks a new chapter in his career, which continues to evolve as he navigates the fields of art, science and philosophy.
After more than 15 years of photographic practice (notably immersive panoramic photography), I have recently started a new style of drawing. I then present original graphic creations in the form of beautiful photographic prints of "fine art" quality. These creations are the result of a mixed technique that I invented from A to Z, which combines drawing by subtraction of matter (the nature of which is kept secret!), photography and digital art. Since this material used for drawing does not preserve itself, I necessarily go through a photographic shot of the original ephemeral drawing to keep a lasting digital trace of it. The rest of the creative process (which falls within the field of digital art) is guided by the desire to keep/restore the pictorial aspect of the original ephemeral drawing in the final creation rematerialized in the form of a photographic print.
All this constitutes the ‘technical’ basis of my ‘Bestiaire Phantasmagorique’ series. This series plays a lot with the phenomenon of pareidolia since I create (more or less) abstract forms that evoke (more or less) animal forms. In order not to restrict the imagination of the spectators, my creations only have numbers as titles, even if I personally identify quite precisely already known animal forms and/or possibly more chimerical forms.
What types of animals/chimeras will you see in my creations? I will let you resort to all your own imagination!
Finally, I like to present this series ‘Bestiaire Phantasmagorique’ as an
ode to imagination since this notion guided the original process of creation of the works and also guides their interpretation.
