This garden features works created over 20 years, beginning in 1969. Le Cyclop is the French name for the giant Cyclops from Greek mythology. It is located near Barbizon village, famous for Millet's 'The Gleaners.'

This is a collaborative work by 15 contemporary artists of the time, centered around avant-garde artists Jean Tinguely (1925-1991) and his partner Niki de Saint Phalle. In essence, it is also a testament to the love between Jean and Niki.

A section of the forest was squatted (illegally occupied and stayed on someone else's property), a common practice in France, and later designated a cultural property during President Mitterrand's era. The colossal objects that suddenly appear in the forest are breathtaking! The sounds of moving metal echo through the woods, like mysterious creatures. Inside, it's a mechanical marvel, with steel balls rolling along rails. Standing in the forest, one can momentarily slip through time in this garden space, a veritable time capsule.
2011 marked the 20th anniversary of Jean Tinguely's death, and there is a growing momentum for his re-evaluation.


The participating artists are as follows:
Jean Tinguely, Niki de Saint Phalle, and others
Bernhard Luginbühl
Pierre Marie Lejeune
Rico Weber
Philippe Bouveret
Giovanni Podesta
Jesús-Rafael Soto
César
Arman
Daniel Spoerri
Eva Aeppli
Jean-Pierre Raynaud
Larry Rivers
Seppi Imhof

Le Cyclop
www.lecyclop.com
(Closed during winter)