Les Anneaux, Installation artwork on Quai des Antilles, île de Nantes, France
Les Anneaux is a 2007 installation by Daniel Buren and Patrick Bouchain on the Quai des Antilles on Île de Nantes. It consists of 18 galvanized steel rings, each 4 metres in diameter and silver in colour, mounted at equal intervals on old bollards along the Loire, next to the banana warehouse. At night, LEDs alternate red, green and blue.
Les Anneaux was made by Daniel Buren and Patrick Bouchain for the Estuaire 2007 contemporary art festival, funded by patron Patrice Coupechoux of IDM Groupe Coupechoux. The eighteen rings were fixed on old bollards of the Quai des Antilles, on the site of Nantes' former shipyards. Buren tied the circles to the city's role as the hub of the 18th-century triangular trade.
The rings were made for the Estuaire 2007 contemporary art festival, funded by patron Patrice Coupechoux, founder of IDM Groupe Coupechoux. Buren links the circles to the iron rings that bound slaves in the triangular trade, of which Nantes was the hub in the 18th century; they also evoke wedding rings joining river, sea and land. At night LEDs alternate red, green and blue.
The rings are easily accessible and sit directly on Quai des Antilles, with entry points from multiple directions along the river. The Navibus river service connects both banks of the Loire, making it simple to explore the surrounding area.
The rings are mounted on the quay's old bollards, reused as supports, and at night LEDs light them in alternating red, green and blue. Buren also described them as wedding rings joining river, sea and land at a meeting point of the elements.
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