Le Cœur de l'Hotel-Dieu
September 2014, Le Puy-en-Velay
The year 2014 represented a historic step in the Puy-en-Velay commune. Elected officials from the urban areas incorporated contemporary art into its cultural program, inviting renowned sculptor Jean-Michel Othoniel to present his work and create a permanent installation.
Following an exhibition at the Hôtel-Dieu museum, inaugurated on May 29, 2014, a monumental sculpture was installed in the gardens of Hôtel-Dieu, which is the starting point on the pilgrimage towards Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle, registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Entitled The Heart of the Hotel-Dieu, Othoniel's architectural sculpture was commissioned by the government. Measuring 7 meters high, it consists of 4 aluminium legs, 461 blue and grey stainless-steel beads and a red Murano-glass heart. It recalls the historic lace-makers in Puy-en-Velay, the multi-coloured lava stones gracing the cathedral facade, and the tradition of Hôtel-Dieu itself, a place of charity and hospitality.