Martin Levêque (b. 1987) is a French-born creative who lives and works in Mexico City. Archipel was constructed in collaboration with photographer Fernando Etulain, by placing cardboard and metal sculptures above water. Circles and rectangles are carefully balanced and folded up, their colours popping against stark backdrops. Levêque is influenced by 20th century modernist photography icons and cites Lászlo Moholy-Nagy and Man Ray, known for cameraless photograms and “rayographs” respectively, amongst his inspirations. Their prints were made by placing objects onto photosensitive paper and exposing them to light. Now, Levêque, who is colourblind, continues this legacy – playing with geometry, shadows and textures to create satisfying and mesmerising compositions that consider the “expressive properties of light.” The results are crisp and cohesive, evoking classic Bauhaus sculptures and paintings that place shapes, forms and materials above all else.

Image credits: Martin Levêque, Archipel (2019). Images courtesy of the artist. Made in collaboration with Fernando Etulain.