This sculpture of a family appears outside Les Halles on the east side entrance to the underground shopping mall, the Métro, and the RER. In addition to this group is another singular man running and a dog...
Again, who are these people?
Corner of Pierre Lescot and Rambuteau
Les Halles
Answer:
o2 of Paris-ci, Paris-là solved the mystery for me in naming the artist Elisabeth Buffoli born in Nancy and living in Paris. The sculpture is named Les Touristes and there is no plaque with the artist's name near the site. They do look like tourists in less than a flattering portrayal, gawking at the unfamiliar.
This is a question I've been asking myself for some years now... The only thing I know is that the artist is Elisabeth Buffoli. She's from Nancy.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking of Bottero, because he always makes the people big and round.. I'm wondering what they're looking at up?..
ReplyDeleteReminds me somehow of this.
ReplyDeleteA happy and elegant family for sure!
ReplyDelete:)
Léia
Hmmm. Who ARE they? Exactly! And why are they sculptures? Why can't I be one?
ReplyDeleteLet me guess: some visitors to Paris who got stoned?
ReplyDeleteWell, perhaps not.
o2 -- Fabulous! There is very little on Elisabeth Buffoli to be found and although there are many photos of Les Touristes (found the name at least) not anything about their original installation, etc. Many thanks for the answer! (Oh, and I love your new profile, mon amie)
ReplyDeleteMalyss -- One thing I did find is that the statue depicts the less flattering stance and look of "typical tourists"
Bibi -- I will have to check to see if Kim (Seattle Daily Photo)has ever posted this installation. Thanks for the link
Léia -- They do look like they are taking it all in
Samantha -- We still have unsolved questions surrounding these people...
Miss Sadie -- Now how would an elegant royal dog as yourself know of these things?
What—no camera??
ReplyDelete"Hey Maw, what's that tall pointy metal building over there?"
ReplyDelete"Geesh, I'm tired of walking. Can we find a Mc Donal's now, huh, huh, huh???"
"Hey Doris, what's up with these people? Don't they speak English for Pete's sake?"
Alexa -- Zut alors! It cannot be! Perhaps monsieur has it in his pocket (look far right)... We know that they could not be American tourists unless each of them has a camera or two -- hah! Very observant...
ReplyDeleteVirginia -- We are beyond looking like tourists (I hope) and have moved on to looking like photographers... That's my story and I am sticking to it!
ReplyDeleteThey look kinda hefty, so I imagine they are Americans.
ReplyDeleteNice shot Genie.
ReplyDeleteYou must remember, Genie, that Bear is an award-winning journalist, and has (as he says) "lived on both sides of the street." I've learned a lot about Humans and life by just hanging around with him.
ReplyDeleteI hope not all tourists are quite as plump :)
ReplyDeleteMethinks the artist was having a go at the typical American tourist.
ReplyDeleteJack -- C'est possible... I know that people come in a variety of shapes and sizes but in my research I discovered that a photo of this sculpture appeared on the front of a medical journal, the lead article of which was bariatric surgery... hummmmm
ReplyDeleteLaurent -- Merci, mon ami
Miss Sadie -- Duly noted, mon cher chien... I would hope that he will shelter you from the seamy underside of humanity... give him my best regards
Loree -- If I ate as much in Paris as I would like, I would be joining them!
Starman -- Quite possibly!
I think this sculpture is quite humorous as they are so big...
ReplyDeleteIls sont étonnants ces touristes - ridicules, éberlués, comme s'ils venaient de leur campagne...
ReplyDeleteThank you for the link to my blog, Genie! And glad you like my profile picture :). I like you new one too!
ReplyDeleteI hope I don't look that big when I am traveling. Excellent photo.
ReplyDeleteI thought I recognized them, but the lady wearing a skirt threw me off. The lady I was thinking of only wears stretch pants and running shoes....
ReplyDelete:) Good one.