The mythical and fascinating Fontaine Stravinsky, also known as the Fountain of the Automatons, is back in color! A capital landmark located between Saint-Merri church and the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Stravinsky Fountain is freshly restored after eighteen months of work. Part of one of the winning projects in the 2018 edition of the City of Paris' participatory budget, this restoration had been desired by Parisians, who are attached to the sixteen sculptures that make it up.
The restoration of the Stravinsky fountain was inaugurated on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, in the presence of Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, as well as Karen Taïeb, deputy mayor of Paris in charge of heritage, the history of Paris and relations with religious communities,Ariel Weil, mayor of Paris Centre, and the beneficiaries and restorers. This is the first complete renovation of the Stravinsky fountain in forty years! The hydraulic, mechanical and electrical systems were restored. The 33-metre-long, 17-metre-wide basin and the stainless steel bench, where many Parisians used to meet, are also being given a new look.
To mark the restoration of this sublime Stravinsky fountain by the City of Paris, theInstitut de recherche et coordination acoustique et musique (Ircam) is offering two sound creations produced in its studios and designed in conjunction with the fountain's colorful sculptures and the artist couple Niki de Saint Phalle and Jean Tinguely. To be discovered as part ofIrcam Circus, and accessible from age 6 (via QR code).
The restoration of the Stravinsky fountain is also an opportunity to delve into the history of this incredibly poetic landmark in Paris, which still hides a few secrets.
The Stravinsky F ountain was inaugurated in 1983 on the Place Igor-Stravinsky, which had been left empty following the demolition of a former town house on the same spot. Unusual for its time, the Stravinsky Fountain consists of a large 580 m² pool and sixteen metal and resin sculptures created by the visual artist couple Niki de Saint Phalle and Jean Tinguely, and directly inspired by the " Rite of Spring " by the legendary Russian composer, conductor and pianist Igor Stravinsky.
In detail, Niki de Saint Phalle designed six colored resin sculptures, while Jean Tinguely created seven black-painted metal works. Finally, three sculptures were created jointly by the two artists. " Jean Tinguely exceptionally made his sculptures in aluminum, so that they could withstand the weight of the ice during periods of winter frost," says the City of Paris.
While the work as a whole is known to all as the " Stravinsky Fountain " , few know that each sculpture bears a name, some of which refer to a work byIgor Stravinsky. These include The Siren, Ragtime, The Clown Hat, The Fox, The Heart, The Diagonal, The Elephant, Life, The Nightingale, The Snake, Death, The Firebird, The Treble Clef, Love, The Spiral and The Frog.
The strength of this fountain-work by the couple many dubbed the Bonnie & Clyde of art? The mechanization and animation of these sculptures by water jets. Since its creation, " the fountain has operated in a closed circuit, with 100% of the water used to animate the works recycled ", explains the City of Paris. Since November 7, 2023, the ballet of these sculptures has come back to life, and the magic is back in the heart of the capital.
After 18 months' work, the mythical Stravinsky Fountain is once again gushing with water and its sculptures are coming to life, much to the delight of Parisians, who are no doubt delighted by this wonderful reunion.
Location
Igor-Stravinsky Square
1 Place Igor Stravinsky
75004 Paris 4
Access
Metro Châtelet (lines 1, 4, 7, 14) or Rambuteau (line 11)
