Nothing Blooms
Mourad Hamla (Algeria, 2024, 2:43)
Honorable Mention – Abstract Video Art
Credits
Directed by Mourad Hamla
Completion date: March 28, 2024
Country of Origin: Algeria
Runtime: 2:43
Shooting format: Digital, black and white, 16:9
Process: 3D photography rotoscoping
Description
An ephemeral beauty and a meditation on the transient nature of all things. This video invites viewers to contemplate impermanence, while celebrating the fragile and fleeting splendor that exists even in the act of fading.
A conversation with the director
I find this work fascinating both aesthetically and technically, and I asked the director to share more details on his creative process.
The movement in Nothing Blooms was not based on strict choreography but emerged through a combination of structured design and moments of improvisation within Unreal Engine, allowing the animation to feel organic and fragile. Camera movement was conceived as a gentle observation of a living organism, while the editing follows a breathing rhythm, more contemplative than narrative, echoing the transient and meditative essence of the work.
Director Mourad Hamla describes his method, “3D photography rotoscoping,” as a hybrid process developed through experimentation. It combines:
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Macro-photography of natural materials (faded flowers, foliage, vegetal textures) under controlled lighting, usually in black and white.
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Partial photogrammetry to create stylized depth and volume rather than realistic modeling.
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Frame-by-frame manual rotoscoping to trace the photographed elements and give them a subtle animated motion.
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Composition in a 3D digital space that Hamla describes as “intimate reliefs,” situated between figuration and abstraction.
Director Biography – Mourad Hamla
Mourad Hamla is an Algerian conceptual art photographer and experimental filmmaker, known for his evocative and thought-provoking work. Born and raised in Azazga, Tizi Ouzou, Mourad developed a passion for visual arts early on. He pursued formal education in various artistic disciplines, including photography, audiovisual techniques, and the history of art. He has been trained by prominent artists and has participated in numerous workshops and masterclasses both locally and internationally.
Mourad’s artistic journey is marked by his unique approach to capturing the human condition through powerful imagery. His work has been showcased in numerous exhibitions and festivals, such as the Festival National de la Photographie and the Festival International d’Arts Numériques. He has received several accolades, including winning the Inaffable Magazine cover contest and the Salon National de la Photographie in Tebessa.
Beyond photography, Mourad has also made significant contributions to the field of cinema, directing and producing short films and documentaries that have been featured in international film festivals. His dedication to his craft is evident in his continuous pursuit of artistic excellence and his commitment to sharing his knowledge through workshops and training sessions for aspiring artists.
Programmer’s notes – Blas Payri
Nothing Blooms stands out as a rare achievement in contemporary abstract video art. The piece transforms organic matter into a suspended, weightless world where petals, light, and shadows evolve in a dance that is both physical and immaterial.
Its plastic beauty is exceptional: luminous, delicate, and deeply poetic. What makes the work particularly striking is the way the digital postproduction creates believable, physically resonant movements from non-living forms. The animation breathes, oscillates, and expands with a sense of organic rhythm that evokes the choreographic pulse of life itself.
Unlike much 3D-based video work that tends to rely on continuous motion, Nothing Blooms uses cinematic montage, alternating framings and scales to construct visual phrasing. This gives the work a filmic structure while maintaining an abstract visual language.
Moments of metamorphosis (when the flower dissolves into air, folds over the space, or bursts into ripples) embody a rare synthesis of technical mastery and poetic sensibility.
The sound design creates a subtle sonic atmosphere that enhances the ephemeral mood. The music, composed specifically for the piece, guided both the pacing of the visual flow and the contemplative rhythm of the editing. Rustling effects, like leaves moved by air, give the vegetal figures an organic presence, while a contemplative, harmonic score using “organic” instruments structures time and emotion. Subtle synchronization between image and sound creates a sense of unity, with the music marking key visual events and transitions. Toward the end, lower-pitched tones add tension and depth, turning the work into a more profound reflection on fragility and time rather than a purely aesthetic experience.
