Artist Interview: Impossible Realities
Matthieu Martin, also known as Impossible Realities, is a French 3D artist based in Paris, creating hauntingly immersive digital worlds that envision a dystopian, cyberpunk future. Originally a graphic designer and architect, Matthieu discovered 3D design during the Covid-19 pandemic and has since become captivated by its power to bring intricate, futuristic landscapes to life.
His work draws heavily from everyday life, photography, and cyberpunk films, weaving in details that paint a plausible yet unsettling vision of the future. Deeply influenced by the cyberpunk universe, Matthieu’s work revels in detail, exploring themes of technology, decay, and dystopia with precision.
We asked Matthieu about his art, creative process, and inspirations.
Opening face, 2023 by Impossible Realities
Can you tell us about yourself and your background?
My name is Matthieu Martin, I'm 28 years old and I've been a 3D designer for two and a half years. I would have liked to get into it earlier but I only discovered it during the Covid-19 pandemic, before that I was a graphic designer and an architect. I also made electronic music, for the most curious of you I have a few more sounds on my Soundcloud, “Ounts.”
Morning, 2022 by Impossible Realities
What inspires your art?
My work is above all inspired by the cyberpunk universe, I really like to imagine a plausible dystopian future, I am inspired a lot by daily life, photography or films, I am interested in a lot of subjects and spend a lot time looking for inspiration, I like details and 3d is precisely an art that allows you to push the details.
The Shot by Impossible Realities
In a gritty cyberpunk future, where technological enhancements were the norm and the line between human and machine was blurred beyond recognition, a new kind of drug had taken over the streets. Like a small USB-like key that they plugged into ports on their cybernetic bodies, triggering a euphoric rush of sensory input that was unlike anything they had ever experienced before. But with the high came the risk of addiction and the danger of losing oneself to the ever-increasing digital enhancements that threatened to consume their very humanity.
(270 frames looping video made in Cinema4D, art and sound by Impossible Realities)
What is an event which you consider a milestone in your digital art career?
There are several but one I participated in and the Cyberpunk exhibitions organized by Random Ghost, I participated in the second volume, it was like a validation of my work as a cyberpunk artist.
Unfortunately there will be no more events organized by Random Ghost unless SuperChief Gallery wishes to continue these exhibitions.
Little Break, 2023 by Impossible Realities
Can you tell us about a project that’s special to you?
Why not talk about the video that made me big on Instagram — the story behind that video is that I bought the book about the making of Ghost in the Shell. And in that book, I saw a still image that I was very interested in, so I decided to reproduce it and add things around it by making a video. I wanted to make a kind of pov video where the spectator walks in this environment, but as often towards the end I decided to stop. But as I had animated these two characters, I said to myself that I was going to do a small reel just on them. So I took out the video which didn’t go too badly, so over a month later I don’t know why it exploded and it is now almost 10M views. It was also after the release of this video that I was asked to join SuperRare. We can say that there was a before and after this happened.
Dad Maintenance, 2023 by Impossible Realities
What materials do you work with?
I have a big PC with RTX 3090 and 3 screen. I work on Cinema4d, Octane, Clo3d, Adobe principaly. I also use Zbrush, Daz or substance painting for some projects.
What does your creative process look like?
Spend all my time on Pinterest and Behance, aha.
What would we most probably find you doing if not creating art?
You can find me somewhere in Paris or on Pinterest looking for ideas!
What advice would you give to emerging digital artists?
To be passionate, not to be afraid to work every day and to try to learn every day and above all to do what we like. If someone is passionate and hard working, he will be rewarded one day!
Dystopian Fashion Future 02, 2023 by Impossible Realities
