The Dead Zone by Julien Coquentin

Childhood memories often serve as a source for inspiration where nostalgia becomes a drive force. This is the case of the work of Julien Coquentin, who takes us to what he calls The Dead Zone, an imaginary landscape the recreates his childhood reminiscences.
“Because the French countryside where I lived since 2013 containing so many memories, I wanted to include my childhood reminiscences, that enclosed memory in this landscape, now a dead zone and yet so invasive.”
The Dead Zone is dominated by the image of a black cube floating against woodlands, rivers, and empty spaces. While the setting and mood are beautifully serene, yet dark, the intriguing black cube becomes the center of our attention. But what is its meaning? According to the artist he thought of a black cube, because it seemed to him that it would be the simplest form to make. The cube came soon to refer itself to the black box, the dark room, and a comic strip entitled “Fever in Urbicand” from Schuiten & Peeters.”
When talking about the process of making this series, Coquentin explains that he proceeded by trial and error, finally choosing a wooden structure of 1 x 1 meters, light and strong that he could take with him while wandering and following the footsteps of his childhood memories. In his own words: “the cube represents the child I was and my history, giving me the opportunity to give back to the past what belongs to the past.” Wonderful work.