The French Artist Saype, who creates massive works of art using biodegradable materials, has unveiled his latest work “Encordés,”, painted on the snow-covered slopes of the French Alps for the 20th anniversary of the Paradiski ski area.
The artist, known for his monumental frescoes found around the world, unveiled this new ephemeral piece painted directly on the snow at over 2,000 meters altitude in the mountains of the Paradiski ski area which includes the linked slopes of Les Arcs, La Plagne and Peisey-Vallandry. The work consists of two creations, made with 100% natural and eco-friendly charcoal paint. Each of the two frescoes covers an area of 1,000 m².
In the artwork “Encordés,” two children combine their efforts to scale a mountain and pave the way forward. Bound together, these two central figures are required to work in unison. Neither can progress without the other. Their strength is complementary as they join hands to conquer the impossible. The snowy mountains, with their majestic and magical landscapes, form a striking contrast to the setting these young adventurers find themselves in.
Mirroring the unity of these children, Paradiski has linked two valleys and resorts; once distant, and now brought closer together. The Vanoise Express double-decker cable car that makes the connection also celebrates 20 years this winter, as does the fourth Les Arcs base, Arc 1950 Le Village.
Saype commented: “What inspired me in this Paradiski project was the connection between these stations via this incredible cable car and the decision of the local people to live, collaborate, and work together within the same ski area for 20 years. The mountain inspires me; it is both a beautiful postcard and a potentially hostile high-altitude environment, especially for creating my ephemeral artwork. For logistics and execution, we faced numerous challenges (weather, wind, cold…). In my artistic expression, the purity of childhood is a recurrent motif, serving to impart a layer of poetic depth. By drawing this roped pair of children, I wanted to show that working together and trusting each other, is essential to move forward and overcome the challenges we face. A significant part of my work involves connecting people, and the project proposed by Paradiski for its 20th anniversary resonates with my work.”
Saype’s artworks are designed to fade naturally and aim to impact mindsets while respecting the environment. Created with eco-friendly paint mainly composed of chalk and charcoal, after disappearing, images of Saype’s works find their place in museums, galleries, and cultural institutions globally.
Paradiski was created in 2003, immediately becoming the world’s third-largest ski area. Spanning several massifs of the Vanoise, it offers 425 kilometers of slopes, 70% of which are over 2,000 meters in altitude.
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