Grandeur Nature : An Unusual Walk In Varengeville-sur-mer
If you're looking for an idea for a weekend outing combining nature and culture, take a look at the Grandeur Nature festival in Varengeville-sur-Mer! In this Norman village on the Côte d'Albâtre, unusual installations have taken over the landscape along a Land Art trail to be discovered until the end of October.
Art in the landscape
In Varengeville-sur-Mer, there is the English Channel, the white cliffs of the Côte d'Albâtre and a picturesque Norman village nestled in the greenery.
But there are also land art installations to discover as part of the festival Grandeur Nature.
As the very essence of Land Art is to unite art with landscape, this festival invites you to walk around the commune, while discovering impressive and/or unusual installations.
To note: as a reminder, land art is a contemporary art movement that appeared in the United States in the late 1960s. Its particularity is to use the landscape and the resources of nature as a source of inspiration and as a playground for artists.
Four visual artists were selected
Sylvain Ristori is a graduate of the Ecole Boulle in woodcarving. Thierry Teneul is a sculptor whose ephemeral works are intended to blend into nature.
Their installations, often monumental, have in common that they were made with local materials. They were designed to fit perfectly into the beautiful landscapes of the commune.
They are entitled respectively:
- Undefined Boundaries
- Damier
- Impressionist star
- Light.
These unusual creations, which dot the landscape, will punctuate your walk while inviting you to take pictures that are out of the ordinary.
For example, you can take advantage of Erick Fourrier's giant frame (6 meters by 4!) to immortalize the landscape by putting the church in the frame or out of the frame, by integrating a character or by waiting for a bird to pass.
This installation, which transforms the village of Varengeville-sur-Mer into a painting, is a tribute to the impressionist painters who frequented the village.
Indeed, it is worth noting that Claude Monet set up his easel here and that several artists lived here. Even today, it is possible to visit the grave of Georges Braque at the marine Cemetery of the town.
Practical information
The first edition of the Grandeur Nature festival is held in Varengeville-sur-Mer until October 24, 2021.
This unprecedented event is organized as part of the Normandie Impressionniste program.
The 4 Land Art works to be discovered are scattered on the territory of the commune:
- one near the church and the marine cemetery
- one near the town hall
- another one on the descent of Petit Ailly
- the last one on the road to Longueuil.
Don't wait any longer: this land art trail is the perfect excuse to visit this Norman village so appreciated by artists!
