Intertale/Eutopia Stop 17: Vent des Forêts, Meuse, France

One of the many paths around Vent des Forêts

The last stop on this 2-months journey led me to a magic forest in the far north-east corner of France. Here, Director/Curator Pascal Yonet of Vent des Forêts and his team populate the 5000-hectare terrain with artists and their works. As a walker like me, you have a feast here. There are some 65km of circular path, where since back in 1997 artworks are placed. Equipped with an excellent map, you walk through this fairylike forest and get your surprises in frequent intervals.

Now, many of us may question the work of arts in a forest. Maybe me too. But I somewhat surprised myself in this case. When, in the past, I have seen art placed in forests, for example Tyrebagger near Aberdeen, then the work felt often forgotten and uncared for. But here the artists, the art and the trees have given the place an identity that joins the little villages through the seven walking routes. Around 260 artworks by artists from France and across the globe, have been placed since its beginning. It’s the continuous care what makes it so consistent and special. But what I found most interesting was, that all artists live with families in the 6 communities of this very underpopulated area of France. The co-living with the 1000 villagers is what underpins all the artistic research and therefore determines its outcome. The role of the team then is to facilitate and connect with local production facilities such as stone masons, glass makers, joiners and many more.  Each work is then carefully situated with trees, climate, views, hunters, access and photo opportunity in mind.

We have been placed with Laurent Palin (president of the association) and his wife Catherine in Nicey-sur Aire, a little village of 60 inhabitants. The hospitality received was beyond any expectation. Joining the cooking, the bee keeping, the evening meeting with the Maire, the dinner with the in-laws – I feel I got a great insight of how the place works. They also took us to the opening of a film on the terrible battle of Vieux Marie, that took place here over 3 days in 1914 and killed 5000 on each side of the France-Germany match. The next day we went together on a tour of war cemeteries, battlegrounds and trenches, as well as a German field hospital. I never understood why it is called the Great War. It should be renamed the Great Carnage. Now, that we all sit together on one table, we apprehend, that it is only the trees that have won in the long run.

In the middle of the forest, you find Vent de Forêts’ little volunteer run café in the 60-soul village of Lahaymeix. From here they let run knitting, pottery and cooking activities and have lots of plans for development. New plans based on social engagement are in the making – an area that interests me specially. I see plenty of opportunity in this field, complementing the great work done over the past almost 30 years. What kicks Pascal is the human side of the project. Liaising with artists and local folks, with forestry and other industry. Always carrying his secateurs in his pocket, he knows no difference between work and life. The secret, he says, is to always be available.