Pierre Duc speaks about his inspirations for farm field art and love of cycling culture. By Molly Hurford.
The Tour de France is rich in culture: some classically European, and some slightly bizarre. Along the route, many farmers work together to create pieces of art to celebrate the Tour. These pieces are best seen aerially, since they’re often massive in scope, spanning farm fields and occasionally even involving moving tractors to simulate wheels turning on a massive bike made of hay bales and careful topiary maintenance.
The land art field isn’t just for farmers, however. Pierre Duc is a renowned artist in Europe, but you probably know him best from watching the Tour de France—though you’ve likely never heard his name. He works behind the scenes, where he creates stunning “land art” with his collaborator Thierry Gallibour. We found out what inspires him, what makes him strive to develop these large-scale works of art, and what role the bike plays in all of it.
Why did you start creating these pieces of land art for the Tour de France?
I didn’t start with the Tour de France. My first achievement was a rendition of Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa on four acres. After that, there was a lot of other victories for me: before the Tour in 2004, and again in 2012 in Franche-Comté (a region of France) for a time-trial stage won by Lance Armstrong! I worked with Thierry Gallibour, my faithful co-author and mathematician of all of these projects.
How do landscapes celebrate the French culture and the Tour, and how do they become art?
These works are ephemeral, but thanks to the TV and video, they remain in the collective memory and become part of the cultural and artistic heritage.
Is land art popular in France?
Yes, many others have done this for all types of events, such as the centenary of the death of the great scientist Louis Pasteur.
How many have pieces like this have you done?
Thirty. The biggest was 40,000 square meters. It was the flag of Europe made with 100,000 bottles of mineral water, which were then recycled.
Which was your favourite?
The most beautiful was for the Tour de France in 2012. It was a very ecological work made from various herbs, straw and wood, and the needle of the rear wheel clock was moving during the passage of the racers and helicopters.
What do you think of the fields decorated by farmers?
I find that it is a great idea! And when the art meets sport, the party is more complete.
What is the hardest part of the landscaping process?
The hardest part is to convince the owners of the fields!
Where do you find your inspiration?
I draw inspiration biking, because it gives the brain more oxygen!
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