NICOLAS RUEL

NICOLAS RUEL /// 8 SECONDS


The project 8 seconds depicts an urban civilization in which the photographer explores daytime and nighttime settings in 40 evocative cities such as Paris, Tokyo, New York and Buenos Aires, cpatured in sustained intervals of 8 seconds. The long exposition technique employs cinmatographic processes by condensingeach picture into eight second «micrometers». In this manner, the photographer, during his apertural travelling shot, seeks to magnify the actions and spectacle of the city in a balance between reerie and architecture by editing, moment by moment, what amounts to an actual urban pulse.



NICOLAS RUEL was born in Montreal in 1973. He began his studies in film and international relations before undertaking extensive travels during which he would obtain his training as a photographer. He realizes reports in Moscow (2000) and in Angkor Wat (2002) evolving more towards architecture and portraits. A number of Canadian and American magazines in architecture and design publish his pho- tographs periodically. Also, Nicolas Ruel treats his subjects by combining movement and structure in keeping with his former practice. Through these projects emerges a collaboration which elaborates this gestural, structural language in complicity with Cirque du Soleil, Lalala Human Steps and several other modern dance companies.
Between 2006 and 2009, the photographer has presented his series - Inox, Elements and 8 secondes - in solo and collective exhibitions, notably in Canada at Galerie Orange (Montreal), Galerie Lacerte art contemporain (Quebec), Thompson Landry Gallery (Toronto) and in France at Galerie Seine 51 (Paris). His works have been shown amongst several international art fairs in Toronto (2005 - 2008), Miami (2006, 2008), Palm Beach (2006, 2007, 2009) and Paris (2007). His work has been honoured by nu- merous prizes and distinctions : in 2004, he won the LUX Grand Prix award and during the same year, the Canadian Association of Photographers and Illustrators in Communications (CAPIC) awarded him first prize. His works can be found in the collections of Ariane de Rothschild, Colart, Loto-Québec, Toronto Dominion Bank, MGM Grand, Power Corporation, Warner Brothers and various private collections.

☁ NICOLAS RUEL