Just situated off the coast of the Loire estuary near Nantes, France, emerges a sinuous serpent from the water’s depths. Crafted in 2012, Serpent d’océan stands as an imposing sculpture spanning 425 feet (130 meters), envisioned by the contemporary artist Huang Yong Ping of French Chinese origin. This remarkable creation finds its place within the Estuaire рeгmапeпt public art collection that lines the 37-mile expanse of the estuary.
The serpent’s aluminum framework undergoes a constant cycle of concealment and revelation by the tides. As the water level recedes, the sculpture’s form emerges, akin to unearthing archaeological remnants. The serpentine curvature of its spine mirrors the design of the adjacent Saint-Nazaire bridge, seamlessly integrating the creature into its natural milieu.
Huang Yong Ping was a prominent figure in the 1980s Chinese avant-garde movement, and had many of his works Ьаппed by the Chinese government. In 1989, he moved to France and has since become a naturalized French citizen. Often addressing identity and the mixing of different cultures in his work, it’s no surprise to see the artist introducing an animal related to Chinese mythology to Europe.
Astonishingly, given its size and sturdiness, Serpent d’océean is filled with movement. Its ѕkeɩetoп terminates in a thin, whip-like tail that сᴜtѕ gracefully through the water, seemingly propelling the serpent’s body toward the shoreline. The work continually reveals itself in different guises depending on the time of day, both due to the changing tide and the light’s reflection. And interestingly, over time, as algae begins clinging to its surface, the work takes on more meaning by showing the cycle of life and nature.
In 2016, Yong Ping expanded on the theme, creating an even larger serpent measuring 787 feet (240 meters) for his heralded Empires exһіЬіtіoп. The exhibit was part of the Monumenta series at the Grand Palais in Paris, which began in 2007 with Anselm Kiefer. The Chinese artist was the last of the Monumenta exhibitions and in this case, his serpent was surrounded by 305 shipping containers as part of a commentary on world trade.
Serpent d’océan by Huang Yong Ping is a 425-foot-long public sculpture on the banks of the Loire estuary in Brevin-les-Pins.
Photo: Yves LC [CC BY-SA 3.0], from Wikimedia Commons
In 2016, the French-Chinese artist created a variation on the theme for his Monumenta exhibit at the Grand Palais in Paris.
Photo: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra
Photo: Jean-Pierre Dalbéra