The Weather Network – Swiss artist sculpts sprawling model castle on dry river bank
SAUBRAZ, Switzerland (Reuters) – Swiss artist Francois Monthoux’s annual project to build clay sculptures on the banks of Switzerland’s Toleure River has expanded into a fascinating castle complex this year as the drought ravaging Europe allows him to expand his dream world.
Monthoux started this year’s project six weeks ago with modest ambitions, but the drought enabled him to build an entire city of towers.
Now he has mixed feelings: he wants it to rain but is sad that his dream world disappears when it rains.
Visitors view the work called ‘Monthoux Castle’ by land artist Francois Monthoux, which he made from clay extracted from the dry bed of Le Toleure river due to the ongoing drought, in Saubraz, Switzerland, August 12, 2022 was recovered. (REUTERS/ Denis Balibouse)
“I imagine the lives of the people, walking under the arches, under the bridge, looking at the monuments, looking at the city,” said Monthoux, who works with clay from the dried-up bed of the Toleure river in the canton of Vaud in western Switzerland.
“So I enter a bubble and become a dreamer… I see their world emerging beneath my fingers,” he added.
Land artist Francois Monthoux works on his ‘Monthoux Castle’, made of clay extracted from the dried-up bed of the Le Toleure river due to the ongoing drought, in Saubraz, Switzerland, August 12, 2022. (REUTERS/Denis Balibouse)
Monthoux, a nature lover, says he’s sad to see plants dying around him and “it would be catastrophic” if a prolonged drought meant he could continue the project for years. At the same time, he knew from the start that it was only temporary.
“Obviously I’m a little bit sad because I’m sad that the shape I gave it is going to go away,” he said.
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Visitors to the sculpture enjoy it while it lasts.
“I don’t have words to express what I’m feeling because it’s… it’s just amazing,” said Heidi Butty, a Vaud native.
Land artist Francois Monthoux works on his ‘Monthoux Castle’, made of clay extracted from the dried-up bed of the Le Toleure river due to the ongoing drought, in Saubraz, Switzerland, August 12, 2022. (REUTERS/Denis Balibouse)
(Reporting by Denis Balibouse and Cecile Mantovani; Writing by Paul Carrel; Editing by Alison Williams)