As part of the Echo Street and Land Art exhibition, an ephemeral work took place in the Bois de Bonneterre. Installed by Matthieu Griesmann, the latter calls on human and natural roots.
Nine pulleys installed and hooked to a gate leading to land. Here is Floor Standing, the work of the artist Matthieu Griesmann. Installed in the heart of the Bois de Bonneterre, the work is noticeable at first glance and intrigues with its originality. “When I saw the shape of this amphitheater, it inspired me a lot. I immediately saw it as a door to the ground,” explains the artist.
A call to human roots
This door nailed to the ground is intriguing and seems to lead to the depths. A nod to the theme of this second edition of Echo Street and Land Art: roots. A choice that goes hand in hand with the future exhibition at the Crozatier museum, “Across the field” (visible from June 25). The latter highlights the work of the land around peasants with the works of the Center Pompidou.
Through six walks in the Puy area, six works can be discovered until September 30. “We wanted to add little nuggets. Places that are relatively unknown to allow people to discover something else,” explains Richard Guillien, communications manager at the Crozatier museum.
Floor Standing will be to be contemplated in the Bois de Bonneterre after a very accessible hike on a 600 meter route in the woods. The work draws on different roots as the artist explains. “There are the roots of the earth. This is the image of the door opening on the ground. But there are also human roots and solidarity, because to open this door you need several people…” Nine ropes are in fact attached to nine pulleys firmly anchored by three concrete blocks.
So to open the door ajar, solidarity is essential. “You have to be nine strong or a little more,” jokes the artist. On the ground, a wooden floor is filled with writing. An action carried out with different associations. “For me it was important to work with local residents,” adds the 44-year-old visual artist who lives in Vorey-sur-Arzon.
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Guillaume Chorin
Five other works can be discovered in the Puy conurbation
In addition to the work installed in the Bois de Bonneterre, five other works were placed within the Puy-en-Velay agglomeration. Overview.
1-The roots of Heaven On the peaceful Chaise-Dieu pond, a work catches the eye. Plants placed on a human construction try to reach nature via their roots. This creation by Fiona Paterson evokes the interconnection between nature and humans, particularly on the importance of water and the need to preserve this resource. This walk is quite short. It will take approximately 15 minutes to cover the 850 meters of the route.
2-Our roots are trees On Mount Peyramond, near the village of Saint-Geneys-près-Saint-Paulien, an ancient volcano, the second work in the exhibition takes off. Created by the Les Yeux d’Argos collective, Our Roots Are Trees is an interpretation of the roots of humanity by proposing an arborescence of Charles Darwin’s “bushy tree”. Thus fifteen animals will be found in the work. As for the ride, 2.5 kilometers will have to be covered for a difference in altitude of 98 meters.
3-Lace roots Nestled in the heart of a quarry in the town of Vernet, Racines enlace pays homage to the trees. Indeed, thanks to a large white rope lace installed by the artists Francine Garnier and Alain Engelaere, spectators will be able to see red roots drawn inside the work, witnesses to the meeting between the plant roots of the tree and the heritage roots of the region. As for the ride, this will be the longest in Echo with 5 kilometers to cover. To complete them, allow around 1 hour 30 minutes on a route with 134 meters of elevation gain.
4-Spore At the top of Suc de Mercoeur in Malrevers, a somewhat unusual shape has taken hold. A spore has landed on top of the hill. Installed by the Les Nouveaux Neighbors collective, Spore allows you to contemplate the surrounding landscape on the Mézenc and the Yssingelais juices. “Each opening in the work is a new window to open,” comments one of the artists. To reach the top of Suc, the walk lasts 1.5 kilometers. Allow around 35 minutes to do it over a 60 meter difference in altitude.
5-A Fiau D’Aigua At the heart of the Jorance massif, the Puy des Juscles, in Pertuis, has impressive faults. It is inside one of them that Roger Benoît decided to install his work which aims to question the preservation of water resources. To get there, the route will be 1.5 kilometers long and will take approximately 35 minutes.
