In Toulouse, the giant statue of a naked man on the forecourt of the cathedral is controversial
In Toulouse, the “Salt Giant” salted the discussions. This imposing two-meter-high sculpture by Spanish sculptors Coderch and Malavia was placed on the forecourt of the Cathedral of the Pink City on November 18, having already been exhibited in Sweden, Germany and Italy. This dancer thrown back, thighs spread and almost naked then reported complaints from residents in the minutes following his installationTwo hours later, the town hall called us to tell us that things were wrong “, declared Edouard Guiounet, collaborator of the Alain Daudet gallery, which exhibits works by Joan Coderch and Javier Malavia, including this sculpture.
Residents protested to the town hall, saying they were bothered by this statue in front of a religious site. Place Saint-Etienne had been chosen by the gallery for its cachet and nearby: “Saint-Etienne is a beautiful space, touristy and suitable for photos”, specifies Mr. Guiounet, adding that the gallery owners had “not imagined” that the giant could disturb local residents.
This statue, made of steel powder and polyester, inspired by a performance of buto, a Japanese dance, is a reproduction of another in bronze exhibited in Valencia and around which took place “last August 6 a commemoration to the victims of the launching of the Hiroshima bomb”, according to the gallery owner.
The town hall assured AFP that it was planned from the start that the Giant would be transferred from Place Saint-Etienne to another site, the François-Mitterrand esplanade, “place of passage, neutral“, argues the elected in charge of the file, Jonnhy Dunal, explaining that the sculpture was installed in front of the cathedral, “while the esplanade is available”.
Coderch and Malavia’s agent Juan Rodrigo told AFP that the artists were for their part “very happy with the opportunity offered by the Toulouse town hall to share a message of peace, although some people did not understand it”. On the Place Saint-Etienne, a 57-year-old man, who requires anonymity, judge “interesting work”, “more attractive than a Christmas tree” and deplores the movement of the statue “who was doing well in the square”.
The “Salt Giant” will be present in Toulouse at least until the end of the year, in parallel with the exhibition of other sculptures by Spanish artists which is to be inaugurated Thursday evening at the Alain Daudet gallery.