Doha Gardens
27 November 2022Monstera Chimera
Exhibition as part of the Constellations international festival in Metz, Art & Jardins trail at the Porte des Allemands, June 22 to September 18, 2023
Alexis Tricoire takes over the Porte des Allemands with his biomimetic creations based on recycled elements to create a fantastic hybrid landscape that conveys a message about preserving nature by recycling waste.
Entirely made from upcycled industrial waste, Monstera Chimera is an artistic ecosystem that aims to transform our perception of this place of medieval origin, by integrating elements inspired by the plant and animal kingdoms, to question the place we give to nature in our environment. The biomimetic elements that make up this playful landscape invite us to harness the potential of our world's wastes through recycling, in order to preserve Nature in its wild state.
The Porte des Allemands is a small, self-contained fortified castle that is highly emblematic of the town. It owes its name to the Teutonic Knights, or Hospitaller Brothers of Notre Dame des Allemands, who founded a hospital nearby in the 13th century. It is the most imposing surviving building of the medieval ramparts, both a double gate and a bridge over the Seille. The Porte des Allemands is the starting point for the remparts circuit, which leads to the Constellation Festival's Art & Nature trail.
The tour is divided into three sequences
1/ The sentinel, inspired by the indigenous peoples of Amazonia, true guardians of the forest, protects the entrance to the site, and can be seen from afar, from boulevard André Maginot, and also from rue des Allemands, in the old town center. It can be seen up close by ascending to the terrace via the elevator.
2/ The Garden of Eden, composed of a multitude of elements symbolizing a wild world isolated in a mineral environment. It features "luxuriant vegetation", including brush flowers, large golden flowers, pinwheels, an apple tree, a large snake, a few twirling birds, a "refugee" that may recall a monkey, and flying wigs that refer to elves, magical beings of the forest.
3/ the Monstera Chimera, which gave its name to the whole installation, unites the animal and the vegetable with its large wings made of Aluminium sheets evoking the Monstera Dubia plant, recovered from an old project. The gigantic monster clings to one of the medieval towers. A little funny, a little threatening, it faces the Garden of Eden and overlooks visitors passing over the bridge. This element also refers to one of the myths of the city of Metz, the dragon Graoully.