20 years Paradiski x Saype

Artistic sourcing and operational management for the creation of a monumental work in the mountains

For the 20th anniversary of the linked Paradiski ski area, FEEL Experience took on a challenge in the mountains on the theme of “Connecting the unexpected.”

Charlie spotted Saype, a “land artist” known for painting gigantic eco-responsible frescoes directly on a natural support. His personal touch is to paint ephemeral frescoes, with the aim of impacting people and society without impacting nature…

The work, entitled “Encordés”, is made up of two creations representing two children who join forces to climb a mountain and pave the way. Roped together, the two protagonists must work together.

The project for Paradiski was carried out in 3 phases

• Scouting and development
  7 spots were visited in October, just before the snow arrived. 4 of them (2 options in La Plagne and 2 options in Les Arcs) were chosen because they met the following conditions: an aesthetic location, open to other mountains and in line with the meaning Saype wanted to give to his frescoes. An easily accessible location for logistics and material transport, and above all, one with little exposure to the wind.
• Artwork production
  To paint in winter conditions (at an altitude of 2400m and with temperatures as low as -18°c), we had to get organized and prepare for equipment rotations at altitude. To do this, the Saype and Charlie teams created a set-up that was very light to transport, but complete so as not to lack anything once on site. The groomer racks were calculated in advance and rotated so that the tools would not freeze.

For each fresco, a stable weather window of at least 2 days was necessary for its realization and photo shooting with the drone. Keeping track of weather forecasts and the flexibility of everyone involved was a huge challenge.

• Exhibiting the works
  As the works of art are ephemeral (a few hours after they were created, they were covered by snow), it was essential to tell their story and keep a trace of it. That’s why the two stations of the Vanoise Express cable car, which links the ski areas, were dressed up with the frescoes and behind-the-scenes footage of their creation. Charlie took on another major challenge with these gigantic buildings. He had to measure the spaces and project the final rendering. After consulting three service providers, he coordinated the delivery and installation of the tarpaulins and other POS materials on site. A sizeable job completed on time, for Paradiski’s 20th anniversary event.