Côtes-d’Armor. The Valley of Saints celebrates its sculptors “which are the soul of this crazy project”

A Carnoët, The Valley of Saints Honored his first five official sculptors and its founding sculptor with official diplomas. These prestigious distinctions, which symbolize both their commitment to the site project and their involvement in the training of new generations in monumental sculpture on granite, mark a turning point in the history of The Valley of Saints.

The first five diplomas of official sculptor were delivered by Jean-René Cougard, president, René Roudaut, vice-president, and Sébastien Manguy, director of the Valley of the Saints, in Seenu Shanmungam, Olivier Lévêque, Jean-Philippe Drévillon, Vincent Lemaçon and Kito.

“We wanted to pay tribute to the sculptors who are the soul of this crazy project,” says René Roudaut, president of the Sculpture commission, before distinguishing, “as a founding sculptor”, another essential artist on the site, Patrice Le Guen, “embarked on the adventure from his beginnings”, and who has just ended his artistic activities.

Patrice Le Guen, a pioneer

In fifteen years, Patrice Le Guen made thirty of the 200 statues today erected on the site.

“As early as 2008, Patrice signed the sculpture of the first of the seven founding saints, Saint-Pol-de-Léon, and trained the first team of artists who laid the foundations for this artistic adventure,” recalls Sébastien Minguy. “If he has trained a good number of colleagues in monumental sculpture, he also played a decisive role in the launch of the first training in monumental sculpture in France, at the Vallée des Saints. »»

This transmission of his art is what Patrice Le Guen is today the most proud, inviting the younger generations to “take over. »»

“The sculptors we honor are the ambassadors of our project,” salutes Jean-René Cougard. “Their talent and commitment guarantee the sustainability of the Valley of Saints as a place of creation and memory. »»

This distinction, valid for a year, provides them with better remuneration by work and priority in the allocation of annual orders. The distinction of founding sculptor, on the other hand, is for life.

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