Nymphéa is a video projected onto the surface of the canal. A woman calmly floats about in her aquatic environment.
Although the Loire River and its tributaries run through Nantes, the 20th century saw a series of public works projects that filled in many of its waterways — for instance, the Erdre River used to flow where the long Cours des 50-Otages road now runs. This river was rerouted into the long Saint-Félix tunnel and now empties out into the Loire, just a few metres from the LU tower.
This double presence of water in the image (and as a medium for the image) creates a blurring effect that is deeply disturbing: the creature appears to be the tunnel’s prisoner and her body stretches inside its inhospitable entrails. The light from the projection plays on the moving surface of the water — a tangible homage to Claude Monet. This sprite is embodied by Laetitia Casta, an icon of our society who becomes a contemporary mythical nymph in this work.
A WORK OF ART CREATED FOR ESTUAIRE 2007. REPRESENTATION OF LAETITIA CASTA’S IMAGE UNDER LICENSE FROM ALLAROSA PRODUCTIONS.
Tunnel Saint-Félix. 44000 Nantes
How to get there?
Parking(s) nearby: Parking Gare Château, Parking Baco-LU 1 côté gare, Parking Cité des Congrès
Public transport: Duchesse Anne - Château, Lieu Unique, Cité des Congrès
Self-service bicycles: Station Naolib Vélo libre-service Lieu unique (n°61), Station Naolib Vélo libre-service Duchesse anne (n°49), Station Naolib Vélo libre-service Gare de nantes nord (n°60), Station Naolib Vélo libre-service Baco (n°52), Station Naolib Vélo libre-service Gare de nantes sud (n°70), Station Naolib Vélo libre-service Château (n°50), Station Naolib Vélo libre-service Cité internationale des congrès (n°54), Station Naolib Vélo libre-service Gare de nantes nord 2 (n°62), Station Naolib Vélo libre-service Strasbourg (n°3), Station Naolib Vélo libre-service Jardin des plantes (n°63)
Artwork visible at nightfall.
Visual artwork.
Explanatory video in French sign language and French subtitles available online here.
