Chatelain, Fernand

France, 1988 - 1988

Born in Piacé in France, Fernand Châtelain first had a job as a baker and then became a farmer. When retired in 1962, he and his wife settled in the small community of Fyé, south of Alençon, where the couple had acquired a house with a garden facing Fyé’s main street. In 1965 Châtelain began making sculptures which he displayed in the garden along the street: all types of persons, a variety of animals and constructions, such as the Pisa Tower. All together these slightly over seventy artworks constituted a lively and jolly display, a humorous garden indeed, also because of Châtelain’s funny signs he added to the exhibition. The creations could be seen (and probably were meant to be seen) from the street, once a national, currently a departmental road. One of Châtelain’s impersonations greeted the passers-by (Bonjour aux promeneurs) and he added signs telling them how far it was to either Alençon or le Mans.
Fernand Châtelain has been active in creating this art environment for some twenty years.
After he died in 1988, the collection was ligated to the community, but for a long time the site wasn’t being cared for.
In 2005 however, with the support of the local government, the garden and the sculptures were restored.