Les Habitants, Sculpture group in the 6th arrondissement of Lyon, France
Les Habitants is a group of six sculptures by Xavier Veilhan in the Cité Internationale of Lyon. The figures, including a man on the phone, a girl on rollerblades, a pizza delivery man, a bear, and two penguins, are made of painted polyester resin and stand along the street and esplanade, with the man on the phone shown in bright orange with faceted planes and his right hand raised near his ear.
They were created in 2006 after a public commission by the Grand Lyon, following Xavier Veilhan's selection among four artists. The project cost 452,600 euros excluding tax and was produced by ARTER.
The sculptures serve as landmarks and meeting points for people in the area. Their monochrome colors and varied shapes make them easy to spot, and they add a playful touch to the everyday urban setting.
You can find these sculptures by walking along rue de la Cité Internationale and the esplanade facing the Palais des Congrès. They are outdoors and accessible at any time, so you can visit them freely while exploring the area.
The animal figures were made by hand, while the human characters like the man on the phone were created from 3D scans. This mix of techniques gives each piece a different feel, with the animals having a more organic texture and the humans a smoother, more precise look.
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