Colossal

Review by Kate Mothes for Colossal. Juin 2024

At 1/35 scale, Simon Laveuve’s meticulously crafted miniature constructions (previously) reveal troves of clues about each dwelling’s absent occupants. From colorful bunting strung between posts to framed pictures, Laveuve’s eccentric buildings appear in a range of states of use in an imagined post-apocalyptic future.

In “Promesse En Solitaire,” or “solitary promise,” a hat recently abandoned on a patio chair suggests the ramshackle island residence is regularly inhabited. On the other hand, in “Ici La Paix” (“here is peace”) a multileveled structure suffers the effects of time and decay, as moss creeps up the walls and rebar hangs from partly-demolished floors.

Laveuve also draws on his own experiences growing up in Paris, where numerous cultures meet. He recalls living on the edge of the 13th arrondissement, where Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Laotian cultures are present in the shops and cuisine.

“With ‘Daikichi,’ I wanted to transcribe this heritage,” the artist says. “The Asian district of Paris is a monument of Île-de-France that never ceases to inspire me… I deliberately mixed genres and cultures to merge shapes, colors, and to tell this story.”

Explore more of Laveuve’s fantastical small-scale worlds on his website and Instagram.

Colossal