the essential
Nicolas Dorange, double French wood sculpture champion, dazzled the public at the Barguillère Fair by transforming a Pyrenees fir log into a majestic grouse.
This year, the Foire de la Barguillère had the honor of welcoming Nicolas Dorange, French champion in 2021 and 2022 and vice-champion this year in wood sculpture. Behind the security barriers, the crowd admires this modern-day Rodin analyzing an impressive wooden log. A few minutes of reflection and two spritzes of red spray paint to guide his actions, Nicolas is ready to bring this Pyrenees fir trunk to life.
With a deafening noise, the man splits the wood like butter. A shot to the right, then another to the left, Nicolas Dorange is in his bubble. “I can see things inside the wood in three dimensions, I don’t know how to explain it but for me it’s easy and logical. I learned everything on my own”, explains the autodidact between two chainsaw blows. It must be said that this former lumberjack, originally from Ganac, is used to the axe.
Unique pieces
“I have been doing this for almost 20 years and professionally full-time for a year. Wooden sculptures are more and more fashionable. I also work with businesses or local communities. Sometimes when there is a tree who dies in the city center or who is in the way, rather than removing him, they call on me. This way, we give him a second life”, Nicolas says before restarting his infernal machine.
With a controlled gesture, the forty-year-old sculptor refines the trunk, sketching the shapes before focusing on the details. Two hours of sawing later, a first blow from the snowblower and the grouse gradually takes shape. “People don’t realize what you can do with a chainsaw,” laughs Nicolas, covered in sawdust. After four hours of work and a few caresses from the polisher, the bird is finally ready to take flight.
Today, if it took Nicolas an entire afternoon to transform this log into a capercaillie, some more finished pieces can require more than a month of work. And for those who would like to treat themselves to these unique works, it will cost at least 500 euros.