If you love Parisian strolls and unusual works of art around the corner, then head for the capital's 17th arrondissement. It was here, on the Place Jules Renard, that a monumental tower was erected over 15 years ago.
Standing 11 metres high and weighing no less than 7 tonnes, this vertiginous sculpture in reflective stainless steel resembles an elongated pyramidal structure. Stepping back, it reminds us strangely of a firefighting drill tower. This is precisely the name given to this unusual work, inaugurated in Paris on January 7, 2008.
Commissioned by the City of Paris as part of the redevelopment of the Place Jules Renard, the work was created by Chinese artist Wang Du as a tribute to the city's brave firefighters. Wang Du 's " Exercise Tower " is polished in the style of a firefighter's helmet. It's no coincidence that this impressive sculpture has been installed directly opposite the famous Champerret barracks, headquarters of the Paris Fire Brigade.
Born in 1956, Wang Du chose to work in stainless steel, a material he is particularly fond of. With its mirror effect, Wang Du 's " Exercise Tower " also reflects the surrounding environment, including the façade of the fire station, the red bricks of the surrounding buildings and the blue of the sky when the sun comes out.
And if you'd like to extend your stroll in this district of the capital's 17th arrondissement, then take the Boulevard des Maréchaux to the Square Auguste Balangy, not far from the Place de la Porte de Champerret. Here, you'll discover an unusual sculpture!
Unusual: what is this sculpture in the shape of an Inca face in Paris?
In Paris, some works are monumental or even unusual. Such is the case of this sculpture in the shape of an Inca face in the 17th arrondissement. So, what is it, where exactly is it and who created it? We tell you all about it. [Read more]
Unusual: what is this sculpture in the shape of an Inca face in Paris?
