Hello everyone.
I'm sending this message with a heavy heart. Alexandre Maurer "Alex" "Arkh" "Vlanx" has left us the morning of 24th February 2025, at the young age of 35.
[CW: Details of death]
Suffering from long Covid, feeling intense pain, Alex chose to end his life.
Alexandre was my best friend, collaborator and occasional lover, and maybe the person I felt the most love for in the world. Love I still feel. Love I'll always feel. Alex was a kindred spirit, we advanced in life together, through the joys and the pains. We've know each other for 22 years and he was a delight, in every moment. A pillar of my life, an incredible mind, every exchange was a pleasure.
Alex was a PhD in computer science, university teacher, association leader, writer, visual artist, indie game creator and youtuber. He was a person of many talents, a globetrotter and an absolute genius whose perspectives in philosophy, politics and economics ravished the mind. Part of many worlds, loved by everyone, he was smart to the point of clumsiness and clumsy to the point of smartness. His innocence, softness and humility touched the people he met. His curiosity for the marvels of the world was inextinguishable.
Some of Alex's drawings:
Over the years, Alex focused more closely on his teaching job and his French-speaking Youtube channel, Vlanx: https://www.youtube.com/
In these videos, Alex examined various political, geopolitical, economical, existential and philosophical matters. Over time, analyzing the world with a scientific mind, he came to the conclusion systems of domination were the major issue, and turned to far left and antifascism. He was extremely loved in progressive and anarchist communities, like he was everywhere.
People who follow my webcomics and other creations likely know Alex for his work in my projects: he was the programmer for all Alabaster and Pantagrame video games, as well as one of my main co-creators and scientific advisers for the Tetracosmos science-fiction setting, one of the writers of the first Ophiuchus the Great conversation, the programmer for the unfinished video game Fantoches, etc etc. His visual style was a major inspiration behind Batori Mode, and more largely his work and our exchanges were a contribution and fundamental influence in all of my artistic trajectory. I can't stress enough how much Alex taught me, how much we learned together, what an fundamental part of my life and creativity he was. And what a fundamental part of the life of many people he was. A treasure, an irreplaceable miracle.
His family, friends, pals, partners, acquaintances, colleagues... Everyone is devastated. Everyone loved him, no one imagined he would leave so soon. I will have more words in the future, but no words can entirely express the depth of our grief.
It's important to know he knew he was loved. He was loved, and surrounded by people he loved, and he loved life, he loved it so much, and enjoyed every moment of it, in his very special way, quietly and full of his beloved ketchup.
I vividly remember the day where Alex joined me for the international anarchist gathering in Saint-Imier, in 2023, before inviting me on a visit to Giger Museum. Later, he invited me, again, to Amsterdam, to try psychedelic mushrooms, and we went through incredible experiences. But we had so many other happy moments. So many memories, in these place and so many other place. Enough happiness for a lifetime, for many lifetimes. All of these moments are a gift, and unforgettable.
I love you Alex and I will always love you. Thank you, Alex for all of your light. We were lucky to know you, for a day or for many days, and we will forever remember the light and joy you brought in our lives.
P.S.: Dominique V. created an online guest book., do not hesitate to sign if Alex's life and work touched you. Don't fear a lack of legitimacy. Like Gaël Violet said on Bluesky:
You -don't have any obligation- to write in Vlanx's guest book, BUT - if you don't do so, don't do it for another reason than a feeling of illegitimacy because you didn't know him personally.
Vlanx had an impact on the intellectual trajectory of an enormous amount of people. This guest book is the opportunity to express to his loved ones how much his life counted.
You can simply say that, what he was -for you-. Even if you didn't know him, even if you didn't talk to him. It's [words like yours] important, for those who knew him.
No one will be upset if you don't do it; it's hard to find the words to express such things.
But really, if he counted for you, you are legitimate to say so in the guest book - that there is a part of you that exists because Vlanx existed. And it counts. Immensely.
