Charente-Maritime: a sculptor gives a second life to dead trees

His works are designed from different species: yew, cypress, oak, redwood, acacia, lime…

Armed with a chainsaw, the ornamental sculptor gives life to wooden characters. Silhouettes carrying a suitcase in their hands, gargoyles… Frédéric Nobili works to order, sometimes for individuals, often for communities, either with wood that he finds in the sawmill, or directly on the stumps.

A witch still haunts the island of Yeu

Thus, he imagined last November, from a dead tree trunk, a sculpture more than 4 meters high around the legend of shipwrecks in Chaucre, on the road to Huttes in Saint-Georges-d’ Oléron, at the request of the town hall, which had given him carte blanche. The artist also gave life in 2019 to the legendary Gargourite, on the island of Yeu. This woman, the only survivor of a plague epidemic, was accused of being a witch. It is said that his ghost still haunts the island, and steals toys and cakes from naughty children. Unfortunately, this statue was sawed off and stolen on the night of May 9 to 10, 2020.

In the park of the Groie distillery in Cognac, Frédéric Nobili has carved out what is called “the angels’ share”, this part of the volume of an alcohol that evaporates during its aging in barrels. And, since the beginning of the year, the Jack-Proust school group in Puilboreau has also had its wooden sculpture, two schoolchildren enthroned in the middle of the courtyard.

five rides

The sculptor has created five rides that are described as ecological, because they do not need electrical energy to turn, everything is done with the strength of the arms or the legs. Its very first merry-go-round was commissioned by the mayor of Château-d’Oléron, Michel Parent. Manufactured from 2007 to 2010, it is installed in front of the oyster huts of the town and symbolizes the world of oyster farming and fishing.

The second has been located in the town of Arcisses, in Eure-et-Loir, since 2020, and addresses the theme of Percheron. For the third, at the request of the Hermione-La Fayette association, Frédéric Nobili imagined a rotating attraction with figureheads inspired by the 18th century.^e century. It was made in Rochefort, directly on the construction site of the replica of the frigate.

Finally, two other carousels are available for hire: the chicken carousel (human-powered with a pedal attached to each animal) and the marine carousel (to be turned by hand).

View Volumes

Frédéric Nobili rarely paints his creations, because “it’s interesting to keep the spirit of wood”, he confides. To visualize the volumes that he takes pleasure in exploiting – “the objective is not to make a toothpick” – the sculptor can first work with clay or set to work directly with a sketch. His sculptures, mostly figurative, are made from different species: yews, cypresses, oaks, redwoods, acacias, lime trees… “Not all woods lend themselves to this. They must be soft, but still have mechanical resistance. »

The work is first done with a chainsaw to rough and begin the details. The finishes are done with a gouge. “The most difficult thing is to manage to give an expression or convey a desired feeling in a sculpture. Provoking an emotion in the person looking at it, that’s what’s interesting. » The rings of the tree trunks are burned with a flame to highlight the texture. “Each time, it’s a new adventure”, smiles Frédéric Nobili.

Throughout the month of June, Frédéric Nobili exhibits the unique creations made over the past two years in his studio, at 15, rue de l’Eglise, in Breuil-Magné, Charente-Maritime. Such. 06 98 35 82 75. Website: www.atelier-nobili.com