Passionate about the North and South Poles and mesmerized by past and present tales of explorers, Nathalie Talec has been creating a poetic and glacial sci-fi universe all her own since the 1980s.
In a quest for purity, and fascinated by the effect of cold temperatures on objects, she explores questions of perception, studies the action of chemical and atmospheric phenomena on the elements, and allows drawings, photographs, sculptures, and installations to come together and create new narratives. Her works maintain a privileged relationship with real or fictional characters, inhabitable or nomadic structures, and a constant rapport with exploration and travel.
In the former Alstom warehouse — emblematic site of Nantes’ working class history — the Pôle universitaire interdisciplinaire, which is devoted to developing digital culture, opened in 2019. In a Silent Way offers a poetic and metaphorical vision of this institution. Two young, feminine figures emerge from out of the forecourt, evoking a narrative and romantic form of scientific knowledge and digital experimentation. They are like allegories of knowledge, human aspiration, and the thirst for pioneering adventures.
Nantes is transforming
Nantes has been getting a major makeover since 2024.
The city is currently undergoing extensive public works, particularly around Île de Nantes (Quai de la Fosse and the Pont Anne-de-Bretagne bridge). Tram Line 1 will be temporarily suspended from mid-June to late August 2026. The city centre and Parc des Chantiers – Machines de l’Île will remain accessible, thanks to replacement buses and to the pedestrian and cycling routes that will continue to be open. Park-and-ride facilities are available to drivers.
For further information
Halles, Université de Nantes 44200 Nantes
How to get there?
Parking(s) nearby: Parking Les Machines, Parking Les Nefs, Parking Gloriette 2, Parking CHU 1
Public transport: Gare de l'État, Prairie au Duc, Médiathèque, République
Self-service bicycles: Station Naolib Vélo libre-service Prairie au duc (n°45), Station Naolib Vélo libre-service Palais de justice (n°44), Station Naolib Vélo libre-service Machine de l'île (n°43), Station Naolib Vélo libre-service École d'architecture (n°77), Station Naolib Vélo libre-service République (n°46)
Visual artwork.
