ON AIR, 2009

Originally produced for the Sharjah biennial, the film On Air takes place in the desert landscapes of the United Arab Emirates. It stages a falconer and his falcon, with a micro-camera installed on its back. Alternating between contextual views and subjective shots taken from the bird as it flies, the film poses the question of point of view, in particular the aerial and floating point of view – also explored in the films Radio Ghost (2004), Uraniborg (2012) and Soleil Noir (2014).

Appropriating a traditional hunting method, Grasso transforms the bird into a spying tool, addressing the use of drones in that part of the world. He prompts us to think about our presence in the world, and the invasion of science and technology.

A preview of the work can be found here.

Laurent Grasso (FR)
°1972, Mulhouse

Laurent Grasso is a French artist, living and working in Paris and London. In his multidisciplinary practice, Grasso plays with and relates to light, sound, radio and electromagnetic waves, natural, paranormal and meteorological phenomena, combining atavistic fears, scientific evidence and ominous contemporary mythologies. His work seems dedicated to the mysterious and the inexplicable, both alarming and seducing the viewer. Laurent Grasso studied at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux Arts, Paris; Cooper Union School, New York; and Central Saint Martin’s College of Art and Design, London. He is represented by Galerie Perrotin, Galerie Valentin, Sean Kelly Gallery, Galleria Alfonso Artiaco, Edouard Malingue Gallery and Nomiya.