In recent days, the entrance to the Sipom de Revel (Haute-Garonne) has changed. A 60 meter fresco sits on three sections of wall. The organization and artists behind the project explain what inspired them.
We do not spontaneously associate the household waste union (Sipom) of Revel with the world of art. Immediate neighbor of the Trifyl recycling center, the site usually evokes the technical management of waste more than the aesthetics of the wall. However, in recent days, the gray of the concrete has given way to an explosion of colors: a monumental fresco 60 meters long now spreads over the three walls of the entrance to the premises.
At the origin of this metamorphosis, a clear desire of Sipom: to gain visibility among motorists in the Pomme area while beautifying the working environment of the agents. To meet this challenge, the union launched a call for tenders won by two artists specializing in muralism based in Baziège: Jérémie Simonneaux and Fred Battault, known under the names Kali and Osat.
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The terroir and ecology in hyphens
“We wanted to highlight the terroir,” explain the two creators, pointing out the curves of the typical Lauragais hills which cover a first section of the wall. The work then continues to send a strong message of awareness of environmental protection. We discover a bee at work and an apple-shaped planet Earth, a mischievous nod to the local industrial zone.
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It took seven days of intense work, spread over several weeks, to complete the work. A construction site closely followed by users. “At the beginning, we aroused quite a bit of curiosity. Then, little by little, thumbs up and encouraging smiles took over,” confide the artists. Even more gratifying: the site’s agents believe that the work is a good way to represent their profession.
React by shifting
For Patricia Vial and Angélique Oteiza, from Sipom, this fresco is a modern communication tool. “It’s a way to catch the eye and make people understand that everyone must play their role,” they emphasize, also hoping to reach a younger population through urban media.
“I like the offbeat side: putting art in a place that is not intended to accommodate it,” adds Jérémie Simonneaux. The artists, who have already worked in Vaudreuille, Maurens and Durfort, prove that culture can flourish everywhere.
A successful bet which makes the service more visible, more human and, above all, much more inspiring.
