Serpent d'océan, Installation artwork in Saint-Brevin-les-Pins, France
Description
Serpent d'océan is an aluminium sculpture in Saint-Brevin-les-Pins, France, shaped like a giant serpent skeleton. The vertebrae rise from the sand and lead to a head with an open jaw facing the sea.
History
The work was created in 2012 by Chinese-French artist Huang Yong Ping as part of the Estuaire art exhibition along the Loire estuary. The sculpture remained after the exhibition ended and became a permanent part of the coastal landscape.
Culture
The skeleton bears the French name for "ocean serpent" and merges Chinese dragon symbolism with Western science. Visitors often gather around the jaws to take photos or watch the tides shift around the frame.
Practical
The sculpture stands at Mindin point where the Loire flows into the Atlantic and can be reached by a walk along the beach. Tide tables help plan when the skeleton is fully visible or partly underwater.
Did you know?
At high tide, most of the structure disappears below the ocean surface and only the head and upper vertebrae remain visible. Water flows through the bones and makes the serpent look like an actual sea creature emerging.
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