On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the landing, the Belgian painter Pascal Falisse returns to Normandy. For 30 years he has been illustrating the windows of the region’s merchants in the colors of the event. And the demand is high, so much so that he had to ask a friend to help him.
Falaise windows are decorated in the colors of the 80th anniversary of the Allied landings. Behind these frescoes, the Belgian painter Pascal Falisse has been playing with his brush in the region for three months already.
And one more showcase for Pascal! That’s three days that the Belgian painter takes his brushes to Falaise to decorate the businesses… Starting with this café restaurant !
The manager asked me to make her a fancy waiter. So I suggested this officer in a blue suit, cap and white gloves in the role of a barmaid.
On the tray at arm’s length from the waiter, there are two red balloons and a bottle of wine stamped “D Day”. The painter strives to highlight the symbols of the landing.
Further on, on the window of this cheese shop, the American, English and French flags are represented… The latter is waved warmly by a woman dressed in 1940s clothing.
At this optician’s, the bay window displays the effigy of a Canadian soldier, looking smiling, in reference to newfound freedom; or even black-headed gulls with glasses. On the other side of the street, on the window of this tobacco bar, there is a representation of a pin-up sitting on a stool, glass in hand and military cap screwed on his head. Note that the number 80 in relation to the 80th birthday systematically appears on windows.
Generally speaking, we talk about freedom, resistance, the values which were at the heart of the landing, always with a humorous note.
In this window, a Canadian soldier juggles products from Normandy. In opposition to the tragedy of war, the frescoes are intended to be humorous.
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© Nicolas Dalaudier, France Télévisions
Pascal painted his first storefront 30 years ago, and since then, he has been asked for every commemoration. Out of orders for the 80th anniversary of the landing, he had to call a friend for reinforcement. Eric Géno is a professional illustrator. Here they are, both crisscrossing the city center, lugging behind them the cart full of paint cans. Stopping in front of a new window, with keen eyes, both think about the fresco to come.
“I will put a shadow on the left side below the pockets, a shadow lightly brushed with a large brush to give volume”, confides Pascal Falisse in front of the well-advanced painting of an Allied soldier juggling local products.
This is the first time we’ve worked together. We approach things the same way. It’s quicker and nicer than doing the windows alone.
Faced with strong demand, Pascal Falisse called on a friend, Eric Géno, illustrator.
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© Nicolas Dalaudier, France Télévisions
Our two artists are indeed gaining height, like the image on this other window of this French fighter plane of the time, the famous “Dewoitine 520” deploying at its rear a banner with this inscription: “a certain vision of freedom”.
Faced with this confident brushstroke, giving meaning to the present moment which refers to buried memory, a passerby exclaims.
It’s great, I just saw a painting in the butcher’s window, it’s fantastic! And there at the hairdresser, the woman with her hat and her period dress, it’s great too!
The two artists draw inspiration from encounters with passers-by… After Falaise, Bayeux and Saint-Lô, they will soon head to the windows of Caen. They will continue their ephemeral work, with a light and humorous touch, always with this objective of participating in the duty of memory.
