The park of the Beychevelle castle has been invaded by a band of penguins, transforming this place into a scene of curiosity. Climate change is not at the…
The park of the Château Beychevelle has been invaded by a band of penguins, transforming this place into a scene of curiosity. Climate change is not the cause of this invasion, but the collective of artists Prise de terre, who orchestrated this surprise.
At the heart of this staging is an ephemeral sculpture: a giant bunch of grapes. “This juicy fruit seems obvious to us because of its symbolic, even metaphysical, characteristics,” explains a member of the collective. Made in situ with materials taken from the estate – clay, branches, vine shoots, hay and water – it embodies the unique and fleeting character of land art.”
Faced with this work, the 32 penguins seem perplexed, wondering as much about their presence as the visitors about theirs and that of the new grape varieties which could soon colonize the Bordeaux vineyards, a necessary adaptation in the face of the challenges of climate change.
Prise de terre’s initiative is sure to raise a smile: “The penguins haven’t yet taken the wine, but they already have one foot in the park!” This improbable encounter between Antarctic fauna and the Bordeaux terroir is a humorous and poetic reminder that art and nature can combine to surprise and amaze.
With this bold installation, Le Petit Versailles du Médoc shows that the introduction of new elements – whether grape varieties or creatures – can disrupt expectations and offer a new perspective on the environment. Between Land Art and penguins, the public is invited to reflect, smile and, above all, to be surprised by the unexpected.
