Jeremy Couillard, Zede’s Dream, 2023 (still). Video game simulation, color, sound, loop; run time variable. Courtesy the artist
List Projects 30: Jeremy Couillard
July 18–October 6, 2024
curated by Natalie Bell, with assistance from Zach Ngin
20 Ames Street
Bakalar Gallery, Building E15
Cambridge, MA 02139
The MIT List Visual Arts Center is showcasing Jeremy Couillard’s first solo museum exhibition, List Projects 30: Jeremy Couillard, from July 18 to October 6, 2024. Couillard, originally trained as a painter and self-taught coder and digital artist, integrates various forms like playable games, web projects, and video installations in his work. His distinctive style features imaginative character design and humorous, absurd scenarios.
The exhibition highlights an installation of his latest game, Escape from Lavender Island (2023), set in a dystopian city with whimsical elements and social critique inspired by anthropologist David Graeber. Visitors can engage with Couillard's newest game, navigating through the surreal and dystopian cityscape. The game’s neighborhoods, such as the Corporate University Prison Town and Clown Crypt Renovation Zone, are filled with hidden quests and enigmatic public sculptures, providing an engaging and layered narrative experience.
Visitors can also play the game and view a video simulation, Zede’s Dream, featuring music and narrative vignettes. This continually generated video simulation offers a guided tour through Lavender Island, accompanied by an evocative soundtrack and narrated vignettes. This piece provides a cinematic glimpse into the lives of the game's characters, blending elements of reality and fantasy.
List Projects 30: Jeremy Couillard also includes new acrylic paintings linked to the digital art within the game. Couillard’s new series of paintings utilize a process of masking and layering to create intricate designs. These paintings, derived from digital assets within the game, bridge the gap between digital and physical media, offering a tangible connection to the virtual world of Lavender Island. The exhibition features wooden sculptures and design elements that bring the digital flora and fantastical objects from the game into the physical space of the gallery. Notable pieces include wooden sculptures of digitally rendered flowers and a giant neon sweater reading “Depression,” providing a poignant commentary on modern life.
Jeremy Couillard, Zede’s Dream, 2023 (still). Video game simulation, color, sound, loop; run time variable. Courtesy the artist
The exhibition is curated by Natalie Bell, with assistance from Zach Ngin, who have carefully selected and arranged Couillard’s works to create a cohesive and immersive narrative. The curation emphasizes the thematic elements of Couillard's work, such as the critique of societal norms and the exploration of alternative realities.
Jeremy Couillard, Zede’s Dream, 2023 (still). Video game simulation, color, sound, loop; run time variable. Courtesy the artist
The MIT List Visual Arts Center has planned a series of events and programs to complement the exhibition. These include artist talks, interactive workshops, and guided tours, aiming to engage the public and provide deeper insights into Couillard's creative process and the themes explored in his work. For a full list of events and programs, please visit this page
Jeremy Couillard, Zede’s Dream, 2023 (still). Video game simulation, color, sound, loop; run time variable. Courtesy the artist
The exhibition is supported by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Council for the Arts at MIT, and the Mass Cultural Council, among other generous donors. The backing of these institutions underscores the cultural and educational significance of Couillard’s work, and their support has been instrumental in bringing this innovative exhibition to life.
Jeremy Couillard, born in Livonia, Michigan in 1980 and based in New York, has exhibited at notable venues like Denny Gallery, Times Square Midnight Moment, and the Rotterdam Film Festival. He holds an MFA in Painting from Columbia University and teaches New Media at LaGuardia Community College in Queens. His achievements in the gaming world include multiple award nominations. HIS work bridges the gap between digital art and traditional media, reflecting his versatility and innovative approach. His interest in blending physical and virtual realities is evident in his previous projects, which often involve interactive elements that challenge the viewer's perception of reality. Couillard's work is also influenced by his exploration of speculative fiction and surrealism, creating worlds that are both bizarre and thought-provoking. His use of humor and satire allows him to address serious themes such as consumerism, corporate control, and existential dilemmas in an engaging manner. His teaching role at LaGuardia Community College enables him to inspire a new generation of artists in the field of new media, contributing to the evolving discourse on digital art and its implications. Couillard's ability to merge art with gaming has positioned him as a unique figure in contemporary art, where his exhibitions continue to draw attention from both art enthusiasts and gamers alike.
All images and videos in this page courtesy the Artist
LINK: List Projects 30: Jeremy Couillard
LINK: Jeremy Couillard
