Massinissa Selmani

Selmani's artwork explores contemporary and political themes through drawings that blend documentary elements with fictional constructs and animations. He crafts scenarios that challenge, juxtapose, and even layer elements within contexts often obscured. Through exaggerated and enigmatic scenes, he reflects the absurdity of human behavior, oscillating between the comical and the tragic. Additionally, Selmani employs architecture as a tool of power within his depictions.

Biography of Massinissa Selmani

Massinissa Selmani was born in 1980 in Algiers, Algeria. His journey began with studies in computer science in Algeria before pursuing a degree from the École supérieure des beaux-arts in Tours, France. 

He has participated in international residencies, such as L’Octroi in France (2011), Perro Bravo Lithography Studio in Mexico (2014), and Civitella Ranieri in Italy (2019). 

Massinissa Selmani received a Special Mention at the 56th Venice Biennale (2015) and the Sam Art Prize (2016). In 2016, he became the 10th Art Collector Laureate, and in 2023, he was nominated for the Marcel Duchamp Prize. 

His recent solo exhibitions include "On a Rock, a Brief Circle of Sun" at Selma Feriani Gallery in London and Tunis (2023 and 2022 respectively), "Rien sinon du reve au doigt" at  Galerie Anne-Sarah Benichou in Paris (2021), "Choses Fortuites" at Château d’Oiron in Oiron (2019), "Ce qui coule n’a pas de fin" at Palais de Tokyo in Paris (2018), and many more.

Massinissa Selmani has also showcased his works at Drawing Biennale in London (2021), 13th Sharjah Biennial (2017), 13th Lyon Biennale (2016), Triennale de Vendôme (2015), Dakar Biennale (2014), among others.