NFT(s): Passages

Posted on 26 June 2025 | by Denis

Exhibition Dates

Sept 7 — Oct 6 · 2024

Location

Ottawa Art Gallery (OAG)

About the Exhibition NFT(s): Passages

Why NFTs?

The rise in popularity of NFTs has revolutionized the art world. As a result, they now offer novel ways to engage with and collaborate on digital creations. NFTs are ushering us into Web 3.0—a democratized era for digital art that empowers both artists and collectors.

Featured Artists

This groundbreaking exhibition showcases eight talented francophone artists who have ventured into the NFT space for the first time, transforming their physical works into captivating digital pieces:

Audrey Bazinet alias Bazaud
Jacques Descoteaux
Carole Ince alias MetaCarpe
Krasimira Dimtchevska alias KrasiDi
Denis Leclerc alias Egoklaar
Nathalie Frenière alias Mekeba
Fred Forest
Gaïa Orion alias Gaïa

Denis Leclerc’s Contribution

Denis Leclerc, alias Egoklaar, presents a two-part installation exploring the poetic tension between digital gesture and collective memory. A grid of intimate, small-format digital prints sits beside a bold, large-scale piece—together creating a dialogue between stillness and movement, trace and transformation.

Highlights of NFT(s): Passages

One of the major highlights is the MilkMaid series, a reinterpretation of Vermeer’s famous artwork, reinvented as an NFT. This series not only pays homage to the classic but also adds a modern digital twist, making it a must-see!

Organizers and Contributors

Organized by the Bureau des regroupements des artistes visuels de l’Ontario (BRAVO) and developed by Yves M. Larocque, the exhibition boasts contributions from a dedicated team:

Curatorial Assistance: Cătălin Ivan, Meghan Ho
Translation and Editing: Dominique Leduc, Véronique Couillard, Rebecca Basciano
Design: Sophie Nakashima
Technical Team: Dan Austin, Rob Keefe, Mark Garland, Jennifer Gilliland, Stephanie Germano

This exhibition is presented by the Ottawa Art Gallery in partnership with BRAVO. We acknowledge the support of the City of Ottawa, the Ontario Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, and the French Embassy in Canada. This project has been made possible in part by the Government of Canada.

Related Events and Additional Resources

Stay tuned for related events, workshops, and panel discussions that will further explore the world of NFTs and digital art. More details will be available soon.

Call to Action

Immerse yourself in the future of art. Explore NFTs at the Ottawa Art Gallery and join us in celebrating this exciting transition from Web 2.0 to Web 3.0!

NFT(s): Passages Ottawa Art Gallery is a landmark exhibition for francophone digital artists, bridging the physical and virtual worlds in a collective NFT debut.

I look forward to seeing you there!

Compression Field

Posted on 25 June 2025 | by Denis

Where Pressure Becomes Form

The Art of Subtle Emergence

Compression Field is part of Liminal Drift, a digital art series designed for the screen. These works explore the threshold between motion and stillness, between signal and silence. In this piece, a fractured presence slowly emerges through a dense, vibrating field—a flicker, then a fissure. What appears minimal at first begins to register as tension, pressure, and form. This visual metaphor resonates with the concept of a field in physics under stress.

The Fracture as Form

There is no visible event. No explosion. Instead, the surface holds. And then, something yields. The central fissure in Compression Field does not break the composition apart; it shapes it. The fracture becomes form, not an interruption, but a transition. This emergence echoes the idea of containment giving way to presence, as though the artwork itself is exhaling after holding its breath.

Visual Texture and Motion in Compression Field

The work is presented in grayscale, rich in grain and subtle light shifts. Its softness contrasts with the vertical crack that anchors the composition. That crack may suggest erosion, vibration, compression, or resonance—but it remains open to interpretation. The work is not declarative; it invites stillness, and perhaps a perceptual pause.

Compression Field as a Screen-Based Animation

As part of the Liminal Drift project, Compression Field was also rendered as a silent animation, shared as a contemplative Instagram Reel. The piece culminates in a quote by David Bohm: “Everything is enfolded in everything,” referring to his interpretation of quantum mechanics and the implicate order. Learn more about David Bohm’s perspective on quantum theory.

Available Formats – Dimension Collection

Each piece in the Liminal Drift series is available as a collectible pigment print on Hahnemühle Photo Rag, using Giclée technology. Prints include a 1-inch white border for framing. Learn more on the Unique Editions page.

Miniature Marvel – 12 in wide, variable height – 504 $
Grand Gesture – 24 in wide, variable height – 1024 $
Monumental Piece – 36 in wide, variable height – 1924 $

Threshold

Posted on 16 June 2025 | by Denis

Threshold – Liminal Drift

Threshold is part of the digital art project Liminal Drift by Denis Leclerc. First envisioned as a screen-based experience, the work now also exists as a still image; this print version stands on its own, quiet, self-contained, and suspended in silence. It explores the space between motion and stillness, between what appears and what slips away. In its soft presence and gentle restraint, Threshold nods to Agnes Martin and her idea of beauty as “innocence of mind.”

Soft gradients fade into a hazy depth. A shimmer hints at a boundary — perhaps a line, or the ghost of one. However, nothing settles. The image refuses to declare itself. As a result, viewers are invited to wait, to feel the uncertainty rather than resolve it.

Thresholds suggest beginnings, but they also imply hesitation. In this way, this work sits in that pause, between one moment and the next. It hovers between visibility and disappearance, between perception and intuition.

Threshold as Silent Motion

The animation unfolds slowly and without sound. Its pace encourages a meditative gaze. Text fades in gradually, appearing in three simple segments:

Not yet an image
Just a hesitation
Threshold

Together, these phrases appear gently, framed by silence and space. A subtle audio track accompanies the animation, blending with the pacing of the visual rhythm. It doesn’t dominate — instead, it amplifies the atmosphere without drawing attention to itself.. This contemplative movement echoes the quiet precision of Agnes Martin’s grids. However, while her forms remain fixed, this one drifts. It doesn’t state, it suggests. The animation also exists as a Reel on Instagram, where it introduces the tone and spirit of the Liminal Drift series.

Explore the Liminal Drift Series

Liminal Drift is an evolving body of work by Denis Leclerc. Each piece within the series explores liminality, slow transitions, and the poetics of near-absence. The series invites viewers to linger — not for resolution, but for resonance. Stillness becomes active. Motion becomes thought.

Print Available

The final still image of Threshold is also available as a collectible print through the Dimension Collection. These limited-edition prints use Giclée technology on Hahnemühle Photo Rag and include a 1-inch white border for framing. More than a captured frame, each print stands on its own. It transforms a fleeting gesture into a lasting presence.

Miniature Marvel – 12 in wide × 15.0 in tall – 504 $
Grand Gesture – 24 in wide × 30.01 in tall – 1024 $
Monumental Piece – 36 in wide × 45.01 in tall – 1924 $

Each edition comes signed, numbered, and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. For acquisition or exhibition inquiries, please get in touch.

Digital Fragments 417

Posted on 27 May 2025 | by Denis

Digital Fragments 417

Explore a New Palette

Digital Fragments 417 is part of the Ethereal Solid series by Denis Leclerc. It introduces a new direction in the collection. Earlier pieces used warm tones. They often resembled light, skin, or sand. In contrast, this work shifts to a grayscale palette built around charcoal, slate, and silver. As a result, it brings a colder atmosphere—but one filled with depth and quiet tension.

Why Gray Matters

This new color choice is deliberate. While many see gray as neutral or dull, it actually carries emotional weight. It feels quiet, yet expressive. In this piece, gray becomes a space for contrast and reflection. Moreover, it softens edges and reveals subtle shifts in tone. Because of this, the image invites slower looking. Without bold colors, forms emerge more gently—yet with greater clarity.

Abstract Form with Realistic Intent

Although the shapes appear abstract, they hold a sense of realism. The curves suggest folds of cloth or muscle. The whole composition feels like it could collapse—yet it stays intact. This fragile tension is key to the work. As a result, it offers an inner structure that seems to breathe. Compared to chaos, there’s a sense of balance. It’s unstable, yes, but still grounded.

Light, Tension, and Composition

What sets this work apart is how it interacts with light. Gradients shift softly across the surface. At the same time, translucent layers overlap and blend. Shadow and form blur together in a quiet rhythm. As a result, motion appears inside stillness. The image feels like it might unfold or fade. This visual language speaks to the core idea of the Ethereal Solid series: form that holds itself together, just barely.

Edition Details

Digital Fragments 417 was created digitally at high resolution (6552 × 8192 px at 300 dpi). Thanks to this format, the artwork supports large-scale printing without losing detail. Each edition is printed on Hahnemühle Photo Rag using archival Giclée technology. You can also find it through the Unique Editions collection.

Prints are produced by Toronto Image Works, a fine art lab based in Toronto. They also specialize in high-end Giclée printing and ensure the image preserves its original tone and softness.

Miniature Marvel (12” × 15.0”) — $504
Grand Gesture (24” × 30.01”) — $1024
Monumental Piece (36” × 45.01”) — $1924

Each print includes a 1-inch matte white border, the artist’s signature, and a certificate of authenticity.

Artwork Details

Title: Digital Fragments 417
Series: Ethereal Solid
Medium: Digital painting + animation
Print: Hahnemühle Photo Rag
Created: May 2025
Artist: Denis Leclerc

Continuing the Conversation

In essence, this work continues a key thread in my practice—giving shape to what cannot be touched. Digital Fragments 417 is quiet, yet never passive. Its tones are muted, but its structure holds meaning. It connects to earlier works. At the same time, it opens a more internal, intimate voice. It’s just one fragment, yes—but it expands the story I’ve been telling all along.

A digital abstract artwork featuring blurred, stretched forms in deep reds, vibrant blues, and metallic tones. The composition suggests movement and transformation, with fluid textures and layered reflections creating a sense of depth and impermanence.

Digital Fragments 404

Posted on 14 March 2025 | by Denis

Where Form and Fluidity Intersect

Digital Fragments 404 continues Denis Leclerc’s exploration of digital abstraction, where form and fluidity intersect in a visual space that feels both structured and unstable. This artwork captures the moment just before form dissolves—when clarity begins to fade, and movement takes over.

Bold, saturated hues—deep reds, vibrant blues, and shimmering metallic tones—collide with blurred and stretched textures. These visual elements evoke transformation and motion. Light plays across the surface, altering perception and distorting depth. As a result, the piece invites viewers to question what is fixed and what is fleeting.

Positioning Digital Fragments 404 Within Contemporary Art

Inspired by movements like Post-Digital Abstraction, Neo-Expressionism, and the Digital Sublime, Digital Fragments 404 resonates with the energy of gestural painting while embracing the flexibility of digital media. It also shares a visual language with Glitch Art, yet remains closer in spirit to digital impressionism and liminal art, where the image floats between reality and disappearance.

A short animated version of Digital Fragments 404, generated by AI, extends its visual language into motion. This experiment examines how artificial intelligence interprets artistic fluidity, blending human intuition with algorithmic process. The result is a tension between mechanical translation and aesthetic intent.

Ultimately, Digital Fragments 404 is more than a still image. It is an abstract memory—a visual trace suspended between gesture and atmosphere. It asks us to look closely, knowing that what we see may vanish the next moment.

Order Your Limited Edition Print

Digital Fragments 404 is available in three sizes, printed on museum-quality Hahnemühle Photo Rag paper. Each print captures the depth, contrast, and luminosity of the digital original.

Miniature Marvel (12” x 12”) – $504
Grand Gesture (24” x 24”) – $1024
Monumental Piece (36” x 36”) – $1924

Abstract digital artwork featuring fluid, burgundy-red organic forms twisting and stretching against a textured golden background. The composition blends smooth, reflective surfaces with dynamic movement, evoking a sense of transformation and depth. Part of the Golden Rule series, this piece explores the interplay between structure and fluidity, reminiscent of classical forms reimagined through digital distortion.

Digital Fragments 402

Posted on 8 March 2025 | by Denis

Digital Fragments 402

A curve, a flow, a tension between movement and stillness. Digital Fragments 402 is part of the Golden Rule series, a collection that explores the delicate balance between control and chaos. The deep burgundy forms twist and stretch against a golden backdrop, evoking both sensuality and structure—an echo of classical figures, reshaped by time and technology.

As this series nears its conclusion, I feel it leading me back to something essential—movement. A return to animation, to the shifting interplay of light and form, to the very origins of my creative journey. Perhaps this is not an end, but a transformation.

About the Golden Rule Series

The Golden Rule series is a meditation on form, texture, and the tension between the organic and the digital. Each piece reflects a meticulous exploration of abstraction, where fluidity and structure coexist in a dynamic visual language.

Order Your Limited Edition Print

Bring Digital Fragments 402 into your space. This artwork is available in three sizes, printed on premium Hahnemühle Photo Rag paper for exceptional depth and vibrancy.

Miniature Marvel (12” x 12”) – $504
Grand Gesture (24” x 24”) – $1024
Monumental Piece (36” x 36”) – $1924

Digital Fragments 401

Posted on 28 February 2025 | by Denis

Digital Fragments 401

Digital Fragments 401 is part of the Golden Rule Series. In this body of work, I explore movement, texture, and transformation through digital abstraction. Although each piece begins without a plan, it often finds its own rhythm. In this one, the forms seem to shift and pulse, as if suspended between stillness and motion. As a result, light and shadow sculpt the surface, revealing depth in every fold.

At the same time, a golden backdrop introduces a sense of calm. It acts as a quiet contrast to the restless energy of the forms. Moreover, soft pink and silvery tones enhance the sensation of movement. Consequently, the entire composition feels like a living, breathing material, constantly in flux.

Ultimately, Digital Fragments 401 continues my search for balance. I am drawn to spaces where structure dissolves. After all, that is often where the image begins to speak.

Order Your Limited Edition Print

Bring Digital Fragments 407 into your space. This artwork is in three sizes and printed on premium Hahnemühle Photo Rag paper for exceptional depth and vibrancy.

Miniature Marvel (12” × 15”) — $504
Grand Gesture (24” × 30″) — $1024
Monumental Piece (36” × 45”) — $1924

Digital Fragments 359 — Quantum Field Series

Posted on 17 August 2024 | by Denis

Digital Fragments 359

Digital Fragments 359 is a unique iteration within the Quantum Field Series, which I regularly share on my Instagram platform. Through the Quantum Field Series, my primary aim is to visually delve into the intriguing interplay of different surfaces and how they can intricately interact and intersect with one another in captivating ways.

How do we situate ourselves in space today?

Posted on 15 August 2024 | by Denis

International Digital Miniprint Exhibition 19

Egoklaar, also known as the visual artist Denis Leclerc, embodies the new wave of visual artists exploring the boundaries between art and technology, incorporating cross-pollination in the creative process, i.e., the crossbreeding of different techniques and mediums.

How do we situate ourselves in space today?

The anthropomorphic continental mass reminds us that humanity shapes the appearance of our planet through its activities.

At the heart of landscapes lies a territory

Posted on 15 August 2024 | by Denis

International Digital Miniprint Exhibition 19

At the heart of landscapes lies a territory

The geographical map is not limited to representing a physical space; it also constitutes a mental construct. Our perception of the environment is entirely personal, based on a unique mental reconstruction for each individual.