In Transinne, Philippe Noirot demonstrated chainsaw sculpture, a passion he has been pursuing for over 25 years.
“I literally fell into it when I was youngerexplains the village resident. I discovered this activity during a logging competition in the town during my youth and then with the help of a friend, I started it myself.”. For several years, the artist demonstrated his talent during numerous logging competitions and at village festivals in the region. “But nowadays it no longer existshe laments. It’s a shame because these competitions and events allowed this passion to be highlighted. This motivated the participants and a certain enthusiasm was present. This visibility made it possible to encourage vocations. Nowadays, young people are rare to engage in such an activity.”. In recent years, he has reduced his activities but he still produces for pleasure or on requests from individuals.
A strenuous activity
According to the artist, chainsaw carving is not for just anyone. “The tools are very dangerous and you must be extremely carefulhe emphasizes. Concentration is therefore strongly recommended. Before any work, I draw the bulk of the design on the wood or I imagine it. Then place the large chainsaw for roughing up, the smaller one for more precision and the special guide for all the details. I mainly use larch and spruce, woods which are relatively soft. The best is still oak but it’s more complicated to find”.
Philippe Noirot mainly cuts and sculpts elements from the forest such as squirrels, wild boars, mushrooms and even deer. We can therefore imagine that to carry out such works, a minimum of physical condition is required. “It’s sure it’s tiring and age doesn’t helpadmits the artist. You have to stay upright all the time and your back hurts a lot. Fortunately, I have always been a good sport and I continue to maintain myself. So it really helps when handling the chainsaw.”
Sharing your passion during such a weekend is a real godsend according to Philippe Noirot. “It’s a very nice initiative to show the creations of the artists and craftsmen of the townhe confides. Last year, we recorded just over 400 visitors in Transinne alone.”
