Paul Granjon a visual artist working with electronics, robotics, video and programming. His subject matter is the evolution of a respective status and a relation of human being and technological artefact. Granjon applies a playful, hands-on approach to the production of machines for videos, installations and performances, often presenting the work in a humorous fashion, combined with darker undertones. Questioning and commenting on the effects of exposure to an expo-nentially growing and more capable technological environment, he infuses into his work equal feelings of attraction and concern. Build-ing comical, touching or absurd installations and performances from recycled and obsolete technology Granjon aims to deliver work that celebrates exploratory creativity and critical insight.
Paul Granjon (UK)
Paul Granjon was born in Lyon, France, in 1965. He grew up in the countryside, developing an interest in mechanics and electricity from an early age. After passing A Levels in mathematics and technology he embarked on a fine art course and graduated in Marseille (France) in 1990. Granjon founded his company Z Productions in 1988. At that time he was working as a freelance video and audio technician for petrochemical companies. Between 1990 and 1995 he directed several short films, all based on a different type of food. In 1995 he was invited to Cardiff (UK) as a research artist. During his residency he produced It is Not a Piece of Cake, a performance which marked the beginning of his internatio-nal series Z Food across the World that toured in Europe and the USA between 1995 and 1999. He was offered a lecturing job in Car-diff and moved to the UK in 1995. He then started an intensive period of research in electronics and robotics, while directing and producing 2 Minutes of Experimentation and Entertainment, a video series in 7 episodes. In 1999 he created Z Lab Presents, a performan-ce combining his interests for off-key music and robotics, with real robots on stage. Since then he developed several installations using robotics, some of which were exhibited in his touring show Z Lab 2001. Some installations were sold to the Arts Council of England and to the Museum of Modern Art of Luxemburg. He also ran a number of DIY robotics workshops for artists and contributed to several conferences and symposiums. Some of his latest works include a man size kicking robot and a set of robotic tails and ears that are presented in his ongoing performance Z Lab Transported. He was awarded the Nesta (National endowment for science technology and the arts) Fellowship in 2004. He is currently prepa-ring new robots for the Venice Biennial 2005 where he will be part of the team representing Wales.
