In Nantes, a statue of the "Voyage à Nantes" which was controversial on social networks was vandalized. A heresy for lovers of contemporary art who defend Elsa Sahal's work "Fontaine" and its "feminist" message. The people of Nantes and the tourists do not seem particularly shocked.

A statue showing the naked half-body of a little girl: without a torso, arms or head, but urinating while standing in the fountain at Place Royale. In Nantes, this work by Elsa Sahal, installed as part of the traditional "Voyage à Nantes" aroused turmoil on social networks and was vandalized during the night from Thursday to Friday. But for the people of Nantes on the spot, the controversy has no place. 

A controversy "built from scratch"

"Fontaine" is the name of the work that makes people from Nantes react. This sculpture, which is not without echoing the Manneken Pis of Brussels, is however less consensus than its Belgian equivalent, in particular on social networks. "He has been there since the 17th century and has not shocked anyone," said Jean Blaise, artistic director of "Voyage à Nantes". "This controversy has been put together by people who are shocked by what they consider to be an artistic deviance, but the artists are there for that. It is a feminist act," he explains.

The work Fontaine d'Elsa Sahel is now visible at Place Royale # lvan # nantes # ligneverte # art # artcontemporainpic.twitter.com / yPdL2nSSl3

- levoyageanantes (@levoyageanantes) August 8, 2020

And the tourists who pass by seem rather convinced by this vision of things. "It's a pretty artistic way of showing a female body. I love it," exclaims Corinne, a tourist from Côtes-d'Armor. Aïcha, cultural mediator, testifies to it: the guest book of the work is much more benevolent than the social networks: "Finally a tribute to the woman. Finally a sex of woman who pisses standing exposed" can one read there.

Vandalized but already cleaned

Other comments are less complimentary. "But that this statue is ugly", we read elsewhere. "This one, I admit, is a bit shocking," admits a passerby. However not enough to trigger a controversy and even less vandalize the work. 

#Nantes Elsa Sahal's “Fountain” covered in green paint during the night #VAN@F3PaysdelaLoirepic.twitter.com/1Musgk5jS1

- Chloé Giraud (@ChloGrd) August 14, 2020

On the night of Thursday to Friday, green paint was sprayed on the work. An act of vandalism hailed by some critics of the work on social networks but above all denounced by defenders of contemporary art. It was cleaned on Friday so that the public could continue to admire it. The statue is visible on Place Royale in Nantes until September 27.