MICHEL BASSOMPIERRE
IN PORNICHET
Le Bond
Bronze
Height: 3.20m
In 1989, the town of Pornichet acquired a monumental 3.20 m bronze dolphin by animal sculptor Michel BASSOMPIERRE.
A true emblem of the town, it has been enthroned for over 30 years in Pornichet town center, at the corner of avenue Mazy and avenue Boulanger.
MICHEL BASSOMPIERRE, GRAND MASTER OF CONTEMPORARY SCULPTURE
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Born in Paris in 1948 into a family combining artistic sensitivity and scientific rigor, Michel BASSOMPIERRE developed an early fascination for drawing and the animal world. Trained at the École des Beaux-Arts de Rouen, he developed an immediately recognizable style, combining technical mastery and pure emotion.
His works, in bronze or marble, feature rounded animals - bears, gorillas, Asian elephants, pandas or horses - which he renders with remarkable gentleness and precision. Thanks to his rigorous knowledge of anatomy, he manages to capture the spirit of his subjects without the need for anecdotes. In his work, his “animal brother” becomes a sovereign presence: peaceful, magnetic, majestic.
Represented by numerous galleries (New York, London, Valencia, Miami, Venice, Paris...), Michel BASSOMPIERRE has countless collectors worldwide. His monumental sculptures, grouped together under the title “Fragile Colossi”, true emblems of endangered species, have been exhibited in prestigious venues in France, Monaco, Belgium, La Mamounia in Morocco and New York.
A LOOK BACK AT THE CREATION
After making sketches and models in clay, Michel BASSOMPIERRE sculpted a large block of foam into the shape of a dolphin.
Once the shape has been obtained, the sculpture is covered with plaster, then sanded by hand to achieve completely smooth, round surfaces.
A mold is then made from this plaster, to produce a bronze print.
Installation of the Dauphin on the downtown traffic circle, 1989
The dolphin today
