Stephan Balkenhol and Izumi Kato feature in 'A Summer in Le Havre'
Orchestrated by artistic director Jean Blaise, the sixth edition of ‘A Summer in Le Havre’ features several temporary large-scale art installations, four art-themed walking trails around the city, five major art exhibitions and much more. The last edition saw installations set up outside the iconic St Joseph’s Church and the beautiful Hanging Gardens, located in a former fort overlooking the city.
The presentation includes a ‘half-man, half-woman being’ by Japanese sculptuor Izumi Kato, set in the tree-lined square of Saint-Vincent church. Also on view is ‘Apparitions’ by German artist Stephan Balkenhol, a permanent installation of figures displayed on the facades of the city’s Perret Buildings. The work initially appeared during the 2019 edition of the event where the artist discovered the architecture of the city reconstructed by Auguste Perret.
Other highlights include the permanent art installations around the centre of Le Havre, set up especially for the city and port’s 500th anniversary in 2017. Designer Vincent Ganivet’s ‘Catène’ installation on the Quai de Southampton comprises two huge interlinking arches of colourful shipping containers, and has become the city’s newest and most loved landmark, representing Le Havre’s importance as the largest container port in France. Other installations to look out for include ‘Impact’, Stéphane Thidet’s hypnotic fountains on the Bassin de Commerce and Lang and Baumann’s angular white installation known as ‘UP#3’, set up on the pebble beach to align with the city’s main boulevard that opens out onto the sea.
