From April 4 to June 30, the French village of Mougins was transformed into an open-air art gallery displaying the work of contemporary sculptors Niki de Saint Phalle, Sacha Sosno, Tho Tobiasse, Arman, Csar, Steph Cop, and Nicolas Lavarenne. 21 sculptures were installed in village squares, tiny alleyways, and overlooking gorgeous natural landscapes. Created by the City of Mougins in partnership with the Museum of Classical Arts, the special exhibit Mougins Monumental invited visitors to take an art-inspired stroll through a historical village known for attracting famous creatives like Francis Picabia, Pablo Picasso, and Man Ray.
Of the 21 sculptures exhibited in Mougins, several were the work of Nicolas Lavarenne, a self-taught sculptor born in 1953. With a career spanning several decades, Lavarenne is known for his sculptures of human figures balancing precariously in unexpected places. Whether stepping off a ledge above a hilly vista, hanging from a rope suspended above a town square, vaulting across a sunny courtyard, or sitting on a seat as tall as a lamp post, Lavarenne’s lithe, dynamic figures are infused with a sense of bold playfulness as they attempt daring stunts like a trickster from a fairytale.
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One of Nicolas Lavarenne’s sculptures can be seen behind Le Pouce, a sculpture of a giant thumb by noted French artist Csar.
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Mougins Monumental: Website
Nicolas Lavarenne: Galerie Art Seiller Saint-Paul de Vence
Csar: Website