Le Cyclop [Cyclops]Jean Tinguely (1925-1991)

Hidden in the heart of the Milly forest  - in an area known as “le bois des pauvres [the woods of the poor]” – is the Cyclops, a monumental sculpture also known as “The Head” or “The Monster in the Forest.” It was constructed in secret over a twenty-year period by Jean Tinguely, his wife Niki de Saint Phalle, and many of their artist friends, who were invited to share in this major adventure.  A heterogeneous assemblage of cars, mirrors, small beams, and gigantic mechanical elements, Le Cyclop is a unique and exceptional sculpture thanks to its size, its artistic richness, and the ingenuity of its technique. It measures 22.5 meters  (almost 74 feet) high, and weighs 350 tons. It was inaugurated in 1994 by French President François Mitterand.

Among the notable components are its toboggan tongue, its one-ton ear, the fabulous gears, and the colossal round entrance. On the third floor is a small theatre and a collection of works of art brut, and at the top is a large basin full of water, which serves as an homage to painter Yves Klein (1928-1962). There are four century-old oak trees which have been made a part of the work; they cosset the work within its forested setting.

One may visit and view the site Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from March to November between the hours of 2 and 6:30 pm.

~Sophie Lepetit and Laurent Danchin

Translated by Jo Farb Hernández

Milly-la-Forêt, Île-de-France, 91490 fr
Latitude/Longitude: 48.403304 / 2.468334

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