These green men sculptures are created by Fabrice Hyber, They pay homage to the famous Homme de Bessines at the Palais-Royal .
Invented by a French sculptor
From April 5 to May 31, 2022, under the fountains of the Palais Royal garden, you will certainly be surprised to see strange little green men bathing in the water… these are the Men of Bessines, invented by the French sculptor Fabrice Hyber. Created as part of a public commission initiated in 1991 in Bessines near Niort in Deux-Sèvres, the Hommes de Bessines have since invested in several cities in France and abroad.
In constant multiplication
In constant multiplication, the sculpture, thought from the outset to be distributed in an unlimited manner, has been deployed in several hundred copies, of varying sizes and appearances, all over the planet (in China, Portugal or in Shanghai). According to Fabrice Hyber, representative of the era of Aquarius, a symbol of exchange and relationship, the Man of Bessines points to ecological commitment, fluidity, sharing and everyone’s responsibility as so many ways of living tomorrow. Scientific training before entering the School of Fine Arts in Nantes, the artist designs his work in the form of a gigantic rhizome which develops on a principle of echoes. Invariably starting from the practice of drawing and painting, he invests all modes of expression and constantly diffuses his work from one medium to another : “No matter the materiality of the work, the only thing that counts is its ability to trigger behaviors.
A woman among the men
This unusual installation does not fail to attract the eye of the curious, who will undoubtedly have fun seeing these little men cooling off in this fountain, in the heart of the capital, whatever the weather of the day. But come closer, observe these statues carefully… One of them is not like the others. Indeed, among these 30 “Men of Bessines”, we can see a woman ! Can you find this somewhat lonely female figure in the middle of all these fellows ? Fabrice Hyber celebrates a beautiful anniversary, that of a success, with this unexpected and original exhibition. The opportunity for us to take a nice walk in the Palais-Royal, stopping of course for a moment to admire these unusual little green men.
From April 5 to May 31, 2022
Domaine National du Palais Royal
8 Rue de Montpensier, 75001 Paris
