They turn their heads and flap their wings above the flow of travelers. Twelve surprising mechanical geese hang in the Nantes-Atlantique airportFor a few days. The installation, dubbed “The flight of wild geese”, was inaugurated on Monday. It is an achievement of
Island machines intended to equip the future Heron Tree. The airport is, in fact, a partner and patron of this giant tree to be built in the Miséry quarry, in Nantes, in 2027.
Designed in steel, brass, leather and cedar wood, the articulated birds are suspended, for six of them, in hall 2, for six others in a boarding lounge. Each goose chandelier is equipped with an electric motor that drives the wings. The whole, whose total mass weighs about a ton, is intended to join the bestiary of mechanical creatures that will populate the future Heron Tree.
At the airport of #Nantes twelve wild geese from the future Heron Tree come alive in the travelers’ hall. pic.twitter.com/27gk4XMvPo
– 20 Minutes Nantes (@ 20minutesnantes) September 20, 2021
“A real wonder”
“We are very proud to be able to show travelers an illustration of Nantes creativity and art. I think these geese are a real wonder for everyone, ”enthuses Cyril Girot, director of the airport. “Our wish is to ensure that when we arrive in the city there is the mark of the territory, rejoices Fabrice Roussel, vice-president of Nantes Métropole in charge of tourism. It is also a way of re-installing works of art in the public space. “
As a reminder, the Heron Tree will be a huge metal structure (35m high, 55m in diameter) with hanging gardens on which the public can stroll. The ambitious project, contested by part of the Nantes political class because of its cost, received in July the green light from the metropolis to see the light of day at an expense of 52 million euros. Work will begin in 2025.
Vinci, Nantes-Atlantique airport concessionaire, made a contribution of 260,000 euros to the project. The duration of exposure of wild geese at the airport has not yet been determined.