Exhibition at Basel, Switzerland

I had the honour of visiting Julian Charrière's Midnight Zone at Museum Tinguely, a thought-provoking solo exhibition by the French-Swiss conceptual artist, currently on view in Basel, Switzerland.
The show continues Charrière’s deep investigation into the relationship between human civilisation and the natural world, focusing in this case on the largely unseen and little-understood depths of the ocean.

Midnight Zone refers to the deepest layer of the ocean (below 1,000 meters), a realm devoid of sunlight, where pressure is immense and life forms appear almost alien. Charrière uses this metaphorical and literal space to explore ecological anxiety, techno-scientific intervention, and the mystery of what lies beyond visible knowledge.

Charrière is known for combining artistic vision with field research, and Midnight Zone continues that trajectory, building on prior works filmed in nuclear exclusion zones, melting glaciers, and volcanic terrain. The exhibition features immersive video installations, sculptural works, and sensory experiences that challenge visitors to consider the vastness of the underwater world and the impact of extractive technologies like deep-sea mining and data cable infrastructure. The tone is meditative yet urgent, combining poetic visuals with scientific context and geopolitical critique.