Tour aux figures, Monumental sculpture in Issy-les-Moulineaux, France.
Tour aux Figures is a monumental sculpture built in 1985 in Issy-les-Moulineaux, constructed from reinforced concrete, resins, polyurethane, plaster, cardboard, and metal. Its colorful surface displays abstract forms visible from the outside that make the structure appear as a self-contained artistic object in the park.
The work was created by French artist Jean Dubuffet in 1985, a creator who challenged artistic traditions and integrated unconventional materials into his works. The sculpture emerged during a period when artists began to explore public spaces anew and place art outside museums.
The name comes from the colorful figures and shapes that decorate its surface. Visitors can observe these bright images and forms that give the structure its distinctive appearance.
The sculpture is located in the departmental park Île Saint-Germain, where it is accessible on foot and sits within park grounds. The site is best visited during summer months, as it closes during autumn and winter with visits only allowed by prior arrangement.
The structure functions simultaneously as an artwork and as an operational television tower, extending its purpose beyond pure aesthetics. This dual function is rare among sculptures and shows how the artist combined the practical with the artistic.
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