Hommage to Préfet Érignac

Hommage to Préfet Érignac is a contemporary art installation in the 16th arrondissement featuring several benches with brass plaques engraved with personal quotes. Light projections play across nearby architectural surfaces, creating visual interest throughout different times of day.

Claude Érignac served as Prefect of Corsica until his assassination in 1998 during his official duties. The installation was unveiled in 2004 as a contemporary way to remember his service to the French state.

The installation shares Érignac's own words through engraved plaques, letting visitors directly encounter his thoughts about public service and duty. These personal notes create a sense of connection between the person being honored and those who pass through this neighborhood.

The memorial sits in a quiet residential neighborhood that is easy to navigate on foot. Visit during daylight hours to appreciate the light effects on the surfaces, which change as the sun moves across the sky.

The brass plaques embedded in the benches shift their visual presence dramatically depending on the time of day and how sunlight hits them. This subtle optical change means the installation reveals different details with each visit or even at different hours.

Location: 16th arrondissement of Paris

Inception: 2004

Creator: Jakob Gautel

GPS coordinates: 48.85410,2.26840

Latest update: December 15, 2025 13:24