Nils Urqhart
Nils Urqhart

Nils Urqhart joined Second Life on December 3, 2007.

French RL photographer and art collector.
Nils Urqhart aka Paul C.Maurice loves to go to the mountains and old villages, always searching for the best location for the shooting.

Looking for the best lights and colors, sometimes staying several hours at the same place, and waiting for the best scenery. Often he would go back a few days later to catch the view with different weather conditions for another season.

The love for what he does, as well as a strong desire to expand contacts, show support and get artists to look for other paths than only given in RL, is omnipresent.

Nils primary goal is to share and support Real live artist in SL, as well as motivate the real life photographers to explore and join Second Life and to use the platform to exhibit their work.

He underpins this with the annual RL Photo Festival in his Second Life Gallery.

During our interview I could imagine how he wandered through the old quiet village streets in autumn or winter.

Looking at the old houses, at the mountains that surround it, enchanted by the landscape.

With his camera in hand, enthusiastic and breathless, magnetically attracted to a “certain place”

and completely in love with the “moment”.

Definitive, Nils enriches Second Life, with his work as artist as well as with his immeasurable support for Artist.

Of course, the RL artists have a lot of space to present their work at normal times, but especially in times like now, when changes are imposing on all of us due to the virus, it shows how platforms like Second Life and people like Nils necessary and hearty needed to open up for new paths and perspectives.

I am very happy to have met Nils, he is a calm and very friendly contemporary, someone who exudes friendliness and love for art with his whole being. Always withdrawn in his world and yet always with us all.

Winter is coming
Winter is coming by Nils Urqhart
Interview with Nils Urqhart

Nils,

Your life without art would be …

Nils: My mountain hikes would be much less interesting if I weren’t looking for interesting subjects to photograph.

And without the exhibitions I would probably lose contact with my photographer friends RL and SL.

I like to show my photographs and see those of others.

I also like to chat with the photographers and share information about the locations of the shots,

the equipment, the processing of the photos, etc.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

Nils: I really like the photos of Alexandre Deschaumes and Fabien Dal Vecchio (they are not in SL),

I meet them almost every year at photo festivals in RL.

Their photos are an example of what I want to do.

What is your work about?

Nils: I’m retired. 3 months each year I walk the French mountains. Mainly the Alps, Vosges, Bugey and Jura.

I take photos while hiking.

How is the artistic process like there? Do you see an object / person / landscape first and then the idea comes up? Or is it upside down?

Nils: I first go to places that are likely to interest me.

On the spot I search for the best location for the shooting.

Sometimes I stay several hours in the same place, waiting for the best light to take the picture (often at the end of the day). If the scenery is really interesting I would come back a few days later with different weather conditions, or another season.

Mainly landscapes, but also houses or objects, and sometimes animals and flowers.

Your mantra?

Nils: Nothing to say.

A winter tale
A winter tale by Nils Urqhart

Currently, the best place for you in SL?

Nils: My gallery! I like to live on the sim of Helvellyn. Some other SL friends have galleries close to mine.

A question that moves you right now …

Nils: The fight against the COVID virus.

Is there a work of art in your life that particularly impressed you?

Nils: No.

What is art for you – now completely independent of the usual definitions?

Nils: Art is beauty.

This is what gives us a pleasant impression, allows us to dream, to escape from our life in RL

Was there a key experience or has the artist profession always been your dearest wish?

Nils: The artist profession been always my dearest wish.

I like to share with peoples. Show my photos and discuss of the shooting.

Lights in the night
Lights in the night by Nils Urqhart

What drives you?

Nils: I like sharing what I saw, the landscapes, the lights.

Many people cannot go to the places where I go to take my photos.

Do you feel understood with your art?

Nils: Yes. I do photos close to reality.

I use Photoshop in moderation. No major changes.

Only exposure or color saturation corrections. Nothing complex in my photos.

Do you think that you can make a difference with your art?

Nils: Honestly no. There are a lot of very good photographers in RL.

To do as well as them is already very difficult. I do my best.

Do you think that everyone is an artist?

Nils: Yes we can all be artists. You must not underestimate yourself.

We all have within us a potential for observation, for creativity.

You just have to believe. And your dreams can come true.

Do you have any role models? If yes, which?

Nils: No.

In the clouds
In the clouds by Nils Urqhart

What does the term art mean to you?

Nils: Like I said in the N° 9 : Art is beauty.

This is what gives us a pleasant impression, allows us to dream, to escape from our life in RL

Are there any topics that you are particularly interested in implementing?

Nils: Yes. I wish to allow other RL photographers to be better known in SL.

This is why I created the RL Photo Festival in 2019. Provide free exhibition space for RL photographers each year.

An exhibition space where they will not be isolated in different galleries,

but grouped together as in photo festivals in RL. The visitors are more numerous.

It is an opportunity for all exhibitors to show and sell their works.

What is your strength?

Nils: I never get discouraged when I am not successful. I start again!

What was the best advice you have ever received in SL?

Nils: Don’t take yourself seriously! There is still a lot to learn. This is also valid for the RL.

Your next projects, exhibitions. Where your art can be seen?

Nils: I do not know yet. Currently, 10 exhibitions are running.

Maybe I’ll have other exhibits in the next months.

A tree in winter
A tree in winter by Nils Urqhart

Current exhibitions,

RL Photo Festival 2021 at Helvellyn (Art gallery Rill’Arts)

A Winter Tale at Art Gallery Rill’Arts, Helvellyn

Chamois in Vosges mountains at Perfect Harmony

In the clouds at Route 7

Winter is coming at Cherished Melody

Southern French Alps at The SLS Baroness Luxury Cruise Ship

Trees in Winter at City Art Gallery

The faceless dancers at Rainbow Painters Art Gallery

Winter in French Alps at UASL

Lights in the night at Sisi Biedermann, Gallery and Garden

The beauty of moving water at Kondor Photo Gallery

Southern French Alps
Southern French Alps by Nils Urqhart
Nils Urqhart Bio

“I’m Nils Urqhart (Paul Maurice in RL), a French landscape photographer in RL.

I take my photos mainly in French Alps and other French mountains (Vosges, Jura, Bugey, Aubrac…)

You can see my photos in different SL galleries every year (more than 100 exhibits since 2010).

I have been on SL since December 2007, opening my first gallery at Isla Victoria in 2008.

Since 2010, my photos have been on display year-round at Helvellyn (Art gallery Rill’Arts)

In real life, I have published a photo book in France (no longer in print),

and my photos are for sale in an online art gallery (Fine Art America).”

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The beauty of moving water
The beauty of moving water by Nils Urqhart

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