French artist Cdric Le Borgne constructed a series of wire mesh birds that could be seen perched on trees as part of an annual outdoor tree light festival (2012 Festival Arbres en Lumire) in Geneva, Switzerland just off Rue de la Fontaine. The illuminated sculptural installations, known as Le Dsir et la Menace, presented a nice little surprise from above for passersby, turning the streets into a surreal and romantic landscape.
Like his past figurative wire work, Le Borgne not only draws the attention of pedestrians by lighting his pieces from below, but he installs a somewhat transparent silhouette that transforms the night sky entirely. The artist offers something wonderfully enchanting by incorporating an illuminated structure on a high plane, especially in the form of an animal with the freeing gift of flight. There’s also something wildly mysterious about the artist’s chosen subjects. Their silent stillness coupled with the low angle lighting makes one wonder if they’re ominously scouting for prey or simply resting.
