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Sol Invictus

an altar to pray for the Sun’s mercy

I’ve build an 8 meter high monumental architecture to celebrate the 1000th aniversary of Caen, the city of William the Conqueror. The City of Caen has organized a massive celebration with 37 artists. I’m beyond grateful to part of them; alongside Oliafur Eliason and Françoise Petrovitch.

Sol Invictus, the installtion, is set on the main square of the city of Caen, place Saint Sauveur, around the XIXth century statue of Louis the XIVth, the sun King. Echoing the Joyous entries, ceremonial events marking the entry into a city by a monarch, where people built temporary arches or altars.

Along the length of the Galerie des Cerfs table, each diorama sculpture will tell a part of this story between the forest and humankind. At the center lies the heart of the forest, while on either side, as one moves away, the forest becomes increasingly degraded, and the battles rage on.

At the very core of the sacred forest, Diana at her bath is crowned as the new Pachamama. At the ends of the table, the confrontation unfolds between the Actaeons and the goddess’s worshippers. Between gentle and vengeful Diana, between Bacchanalia and Amazonomachy, the installation plays with mythology’s codes, offering an alternative perspective.

A contemporary mythology echoing the disappearance of forests and the relentless expansion of human activity.

The exhibition is visible at the Château de Chantilly from April the 5th until July the 7th. Do not hesitate to check the Château’s website for more information ( opening hours, …) : https://chateaudechantilly.fr/installation-guillaume-sardin-chateau-chantilly/