Lilian Bourgeat tries hard to go beyond the ordinary, both literally and figuratively. He takes great pains to supersize everyday objects (patio furniture, rubber boots, road pylons, public benches, etc.). While preserving their exact original appearance, they are transfigured from banal items to take on extraordinary, and quasi-iconic status.
This is the case with this oversized measuring tape. Indispensable tool for architects, urban planners, workers, and many other trades, the measuring tape is also essential for this artist, who carries one everywhere he goes. An exact – but gigantic – copy of his own, this one is splayed out in the courtyard of the new headquarters for the construction company, Aethica. In the heart of Île de Nantes, this work appears as if it were a monument dedicated to the simplicity of an everyday tool – but one which turns constructions from our imagination into concrete reality.
PERMANENT ARTWORK CREATED FOR ESTUAIRE WITH THE SUPPORT OF ADI.
Nantes is transforming
Nantes is changing to become an even more ecological, inclusive, and dynamic city. To do this, new public works will reinforce our already existing ecofriendly modes of transport: new tram lines, green zones for pedestrians and cyclists, and more. From 2024, these major urban projects will disrupt traffic around Les Machines de l’Île and Parc des Chantiers, with the Pont Anne-de-Bretagne bridge closed off to cars (the bridge will remain accessible to pedestrians and cyclists). Solutions will be offered throughout construction to make it easier for everyone to get around, like: increased frequency of several public transport lines, more Naolib bike-share bicycles, and more parking spots in park-and-ride lots.
For further information
32 rue La Noue Bras de Fer 44200 Nantes
How to get there?
Parking(s) nearby: Parking Les Machines, Parking Les Nefs, Parking Gloriette 2, Parking Médiathèque, Parking CHU 1, Parking Chantiers Navals
Public transport: Gare de l'Etat, Prairie au Duc 1, Prairie au Duc, Médiathèque, Chantiers Navals
Self-service bicycles: Machine De L'île (n°43), Palais De Justice (n°44), Prairie Au Duc (n°45), École D'architecture (n°77), Médiathèque (n°34), Brunelière (n°41)
