” But what is this thing ? Too huge ”Barely on Place Royale, this group of teenagers“ hangs ”on the imposing metal structure that covers the fountain. Around them, other passers-by have already taken out their cellphones to immortalize the moment. “It’s Royal de luxe, isn’t it?” Asks a lady with white hair. ” Yes, it must be that. I think I heard about it, ”replies his neighbor. Royal de luxe has nothing to do with this story.
This spectacular wreck, which seems to have fallen from the sky right on the fountain, is one of the major works of the 2021 edition of Voyage à Nantes (VAN). The cultural and tourist event will officially start on Saturday but the installation site has been visible for several days in the center of the square. The technicians are now carrying out the finishing touches, under the supervision of the designer, the Marseille sculptor Ugo Schiavi.
His disemboweled creation, which will be on display until the end of the summer, is called The Shipwreck of Neptune. 17 m long and 7.50 m high, it “stages a veritable sinking of a fragmented, pierced and rusted merchant ship” in response to “the river and maritime symbolism of the city of Nantes”,
explains the Voyage to Nantes.
Water will flow from the waterfall
The fountain, whose statues have not been unbolted, will remain active. Water will trickle down and seep from the carcass. It will be completed by a bust of the god Neptune, to be discovered on a bank near the Schoelcher footbridge, “as if he had been expelled during the shipwreck”.
“It’s banging. I really like it. On the other hand, I don’t quite understand the message, ”comments Hugo. “Yes it’s really impressive, adds Solange. It reminds me of garbage ships, like the Erika. But it’s a shame to hide the fountain. There was room to install it right next to it anyway. “
The Voyage to Nantes will take place from July 3 to September 12.