Acquisition of art work: Chênes en majesté by Bernadette Chéné

In the context of its cultural and heritage approach, Groupe Charlois orders a monumental work of art, connected to its territory and its historical stave mills, to Bernadette Chéné. With this order, Groupe Charlois takes up the challenge of introducing contemporary art in the middle of Murlin. Two oak wood sculptures measuring 3,5 meters in height now invite visitors to the contemplation. Bernadette Chéné, designs each of her sculptures for a place, in perfect harmony with space and environment. The artist also selects materials according to the history of the site. The two sculptures proposed by the artist allude to a container form, associated to a slim form, reminded the spirit of the tanks: receive and preserve. Each oak log has been splitted in 8 parts by the carpenter and cabinetmaker André Fouchet who is Bernadette Chéné’s partner for her wood works of art. Splitted oak refers to the stave mill whereas circle refers to cooperage whose art is expressed in the nearby handcrafted cooperage La Grange. Sculptures form also refers to the stage of “mise en rose”. Through an artistic gesture characterized by a high lightness, despite the heavy weight of each sculpture (around 800 kg), Bernadette Chéné has managed to pay tribute to the activities of the Groupe Charlois and to the history of a territory intimately linked to the trees and to the forest.   Chênes en majesté, 2018