Thursday Salute to Originals: Face It!

A trio of giant cartoon faces takes over a botanical garden in France.

“I have seen landscapes… which, under a particular light, make me feel that at any moment a giant might raise his head over the next ridge.” — C.S. Lewis

Over a hill, up a tree, or in a pond — there are giants everywhere in Jardin des Plantes: a botanical garden in Nances, France. Three more cartoonish characters join the fun in June as part of Jean Jullien’s series of public sculptures, Filili Viridi.

The three newcomers, Le Siesteur, Le Passeur, and L’Observateur, share the funky and somewhat mischievous attributes of Jullien’s signature, colorful style. Whether wrapping their comically long arms around a tree or lounging atop a grassy hill, each giant’s personality adds a dimension of fun to the beautiful backdrop of the gardens.

As this family of giants continues to grow, Jullien plans to add over a dozen, eight-meter-tall steel sculptures to the series before the Fall of 2022.

This Thursday, we’re saluting Jean Jullien’s growing family of playful giants. You can meet more of Jullien’s characters on his Instagram, including several light-hearted digital illustrations.

Sources: Jean Jullien, This is Colossal