Frédéric Cordier. Landscape mechanics

In his engraved work, the Canadian-Swiss artist Frédéric Cordier (*1985) examines the transformation of landscapes under the impact of human activity. Conceived as “contemporary capriccios,” his panoramic compositions replace romantic ruins with skyscrapers, infrastructure, and industrial architecture. Their monumentality and meticulous precision convey a critical fascination with the dominance of human-made structures over the natural environment.

Cordier’s graphic vocabulary—characterised by geometric forms, regular grids, and binary black-and-white contrasts—draws equally on the worlds of computing, mechanics, and architecture. Ranging from digital drawing to manual linoleum engraving, his works reflect the increasing mechanisation of the world while remaining firmly rooted in the ancient tradition of relief printing.

This first monographic museum exhibition of the artist’s work brings together a dozen large-scale prints, presenting landscapes of dizzying detail and visual density.

The exhibition is curated by Margaux Honnegger, assistant curator at the Cantonal Print Room.

Publication

Frédéric Cordier. 2010-2022

Frédéric Cordier. 2010-2022 Against the backdrop of this remarkable artistic career, *Frédéric Cordier. 2010–2022* was published in 2023. This is the first monograph dedicated to the artist, published by art&fiction in Lausanne. Edited by Laurence Schmidlin, the book traces twelve years of graphic work and is, in itself, an object that reflects the artist’s engraved work. Bilingual in French and English, it brings together texts by Ji-Yoon Han, Sylvain Menétrey and Laurence Schmidlin across nearly 200 pages and will be available for purchase at the bookshop and gift shop of the Musée Jenisch Vevey for the duration of the exhibition Frédéric Cordier. Mécanique du paysage.

Edited by Laurence Schmidlin

Published by art&fiction, Lausanne

With contributions by Ji-Yoon Han, Laurence Schmidlin and Sylvain Menétrey

Designed by Dual Room, Biel

French/English, hardback, 196 pages

54 CHF

Limited editions

The exhibition Frédéric Cordier: Mécanique du paysage provided the Musée Jenisch Vevey with an opportunity to revive the production of limited-edition prints in collaboration with living artists.

To accompany this exhibition, Frédéric Cordier has produced three editions, each printed in a run of twenty copies by the artist. Each print is numbered and signed by the artist. The editions are on sale in the museum shop.

Entitled Magma, Burst and Dual, they reflect the graphic language characteristic of the artist’s work, but on a smaller scale.

Burst, 2026, linogravure sur papier vélin d’Arches, 260 x 340 mm. Image : Frédéric Cordier

Dual, 2026, linogravure sur papier vélin d’Arches, 260 x 340 mm. Image : Frédéric Cordier

Magma, 2026, linogravure sur papier vélin d’Arches, 370 x 350 mm. Image : Frédéric Cordier

Document

Exhibition leaflet

Dossier de presse

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Frédéric Cordier’s work will also be showcased at his printer and publisher, URDLA (Villeurbanne). The exhibition will feature large-format colour prints by the artist. Above all, it will help to raise awareness of and promote his artistic practice in the Lyon metropolitan area and beyond.

On display from 25 April to 4 July 2026