Cactus - Mamilaria magnifica - Série : Histoire de cactus, 2022

Moz - David Vuillermoz   Emerging artists

David Vuillermoz, known under the pseudonym MOZ, is a French photographer specializing in architectural photography. Since 2007, he has been working on construction sites, where he explores social and cultural dynamics through his sociological series Les Bâtisseurs de la cité phocéenne. This project documents the daily lives of workers participating in the urban transformation of Marseille, highlighting the dignity and importance of these workers, often invisible but essential to the construction of our cities.

In 2017, MOZ also produced work for the Order of Malta, capturing portraits of autistic people. This sociological project aimed to reveal their uniqueness, challenges and humanity through touching images. A private exhibition was organized for the families of the people photographed.

Artistic Approach

Alongside his documentary work, MOZ adopts an artistic approach that fuses the visible and the invisible, the material and the immaterial, he addresses contemporary issues through various photographic series:

Walk and Slide (2016): Questioning global warming.
Cactus Story (2022-2023): Reflection on our ability to adapt.
Infinite Palimpsest (2018-2019) and Plant Spirit (2021-2022): Exploration of themes related to the invisible.
Self-image (2024-2025): Reflection on the narcissistic relationship of contemporary society with the image.

His works, both constructivist and playful, invite us to reflect on the place of everyday objects in our lives. He even goes so far as to make monumental frames in concrete, steel or glass to present some of his works, it is, as he says, the tactile extension of his images.
Human's Belongings (2009-2012): Adult Objects
Sweet trash teddy (2010-2011): children's "doudous"

Punctuated by a tribute to his maternal grandfather, a winemaker from the southwest with whom he had a special relationship, through a series produced with a 20X25 bellows camera using the old wet collodion process, a link between the art of 19th century photography and the art of winemaking.
Carnotzet (2011-2013): A link between the past and the present, treated in a contemporary way.
Some works, colorful and joyful as if to reconnect with his inner child, are inspired by the toys of his childhood.
Enjoy Skiing (2015): he revisits childhood and questions our perception through scenes that oscillate between lightness and philosophical depth.
A Robot on Vacation (2021): A look at the world situation, but Goldorak is on vacation.

An Artistic Break: The Experience of Isolation

A defining experience in MOZ's life was his choice to live in isolation for over three years in the mountains with his children, in a converted truck. This immersion in nature transformed his artistic approach, leading him to focus on sensory perceptions and explore new dimensions of reality.

This change is reflected in his recent works, where he attempts to make the invisible visible through his camera. In this vein, his work is also becoming more philosophical, as evidenced by his ongoing series, Reflet de soi. This work questions our contemporary relationship to the image and the incessant quest for perfection, in a natural setting.

Self-Reflection: A Meditation on Identity

In the enchanting setting of a mountain lake, MOZ orchestrates a subtle staging where the mirror plays a central role. A mysterious and revealing object, it disrupts the natural scene and refers to a primitive link with the reflection, such as humanity once experienced when looking at water. This mirror thus becomes a tool for reflection, inciting a deep introspection on our relationship with self-image, exacerbated today by social networks and the culture of appearance.

The series Reflet de soi asks an essential question: what does our reflection really reveal to us? Is it an echo of what we want to show or a mirror of what we are trying to escape? This work presents itself as a meditation on the identity, authenticity and depth of our own reflection.

Conclusion

The work of David Vuillermoz, aka MOZ, is distinguished by a sociological and conceptual approach aimed at raising awareness of contemporary issues. His mastery of photographic techniques, whether silver or digital processes, allows him to explore themes that are dear to him.

His monumental works, often integrated into imposing structures such as concrete or glass, themselves become essential elements of his artistic approach. Through his gaze, MOZ invites the viewer to reflect on the complexity of our contemporary world, combining aesthetics and deep meaning in a sincere and meaningful approach at the heart of modern photography.