Press review
Nature in the palm of your hands
✎ Article by Jacques Paugam published in Carte Blanche, Spring/Summer 2018
Philippe Ardy is a wood sculptor, used to working with clay and a lover of stone. In the secrecy of his studio, he fashions the shapes inspired by natural materials gathered during long walks spent observing nature. Clay spheres, faces and figures […]
Activist sculptor and whistleblower
✎ Article by Antoine Violette published in RMO à la Hune No. 3, August 2016, by Antoine Violette
A former economist and diplomat turned sculptor, Philippe Ardy works and exhibits in a hut in La Baudissière. An anti-globalisation activist from the outset, he has found art to be a way of continuing the fight for a better world, using a different language […].
Philippe Ardy, feet firmly on the ground
✎ Article by Annie Massias published in Sud-ouest on 18/08/2018
From the outset, this artist has been an activist for the Earth and the future of humanity. A child of Burgundy, he is proud of his roots in the Puisaye region. He studied geography at the Sorbonne-Panthéon, before turning to international economics […].
The Ardy refuge, an island with a roof
✎ Article by Patricia Marchal published in Une île, un toit, Spring 2017
One full moon, a strange sphere, all driftwood, came from the sea, not to run aground, but to land on the highest point of the citadel. Since then, it has dominated the site, adding an extra touch of magic”. Last summer, Ardy took part in the Amers – Art & Nature biennial in Oléron, whose theme was Refuge, and for which he created the Maritime Sphere […].
Philippe Ardy’s studio-gallery is now open to children
✎ Article by Sylvie-Carole Sauvion published in RMO à la Hune n°49 of 12 August 2020
At the Citadelle of Château d’Oléron, children aged 7 to 17 can now learn about a range of plastic arts disciplines. These mini-workshops, lasting from one to three hours, are held in the studio of Philippe Ardy, a sculptor based on the Citadel esplanade […].
The sculptor reveals his secrets
✎ Article by M.-C. V. published in Sud-ouest on 18/03/2017
Philippe Ardy is a well-known sculptor from Oleron, whose previous work, the famous lighted driftwood sphere, proudly parades on the heights of the citadel. An artist who has been committed to protecting the environment for some fifteen years, his sphere […]
Community projects
Press articles devoted specifically to the 2 participatory projects: ‘Sphère Maritime’ and ‘Joueur de Planète’.
Participatory funding to exhibit the “Sphere
✎ Article by David Labardin published in Le Littoral on 16 September 2016
Throughout the summer at Gatseau, the Sphère Maritime has been a source of delight for summer visitors. From the Little Train, camera in hand, or as a climbing site for the younger ones, even if the practice is obviously forbidden. ‘There have even been reports that it has been used as a love nest,’ adds artist Philippe Ardy, smiling […].
Le Joueur de Planète, whistleblower by Philippe Ardy
✎ Article by Antoine Violette published in RMO à la Hune N°30 of 20 November 2018
The sculptor, best known for his ‘Maritime Sphere’ at the Citadelle of Château d’Oléron, is launching a new participatory project to save the planet. Philippe Ardy is a humanist sculptor who is keen to do his bit to preserve a dignified humanity on our planet. This summer, he embarked on a monumental project in Lavoux stone […].
The Planet Player shows the way
✎ Article by Elise Battut published in Le Littoral on 22 August 2019
The project was born six years ago, when the artist made an initial mould of the model in raw clay. Philippe Ardy’s work finally came to life in a few months in his studio at the Citadelle, with the help of several technicians and designers: Sylvie Berry, Jean-Marc Blanchard, Anthony Gaudier, Tonio Moreira, Jean-Claude Lamberron, David Marchegay, Dominique Hervé and Victorien Vergara […].
More articles
Replica of the Maritime Sphere sold to a private individual
✎ Article by David Labardin published in Le Littoral on 10 February 2017
The large sphere of driftwood designed by Citadelle d’Oléron artist Philippe Ardy now sits enthroned on the ramparts of the Citadel. Purchased for €4,500 by the local council at the end of last year, it had spent the whole summer on Gatseau beach (Saint-Trojan), as part of the Amers contemporary art biennial […].
‘The Planet Player’ comes to life
✎ Article by Stéphanie Gollard published in Sud-ouest on 17/11/2018
Philippe Ardy is a well-known sculptor from Oleron, whose previous work, the famous illuminated driftwood sphere, stands proudly on the heights of the citadel. An artist who has been committed to protecting the environment for some fifteen years, his sphere, designed with Jean-Marc Blanchard, was already a warning about the environmental crisis […].
Revelation of the Planète player
✎ Article by Élise Battut published in Le Littoral on 16 July 2019
Last October, the artist Philippe Ardy, creator of the maritime sphere on display high up in the Bastion de la Brèche, brought to life a project that had been six years in the making. For several months, he worked on a 1.8-tonne block of Lavoux stone, sculpting the ecological work of art entitled Le Joueur de Planète, which simultaneously depicts the movements and changes experienced by the earth […].
Artists as whistleblowers!
✎ Article by Pauline Rouillé published by l’Effet Domino in 2016
It took a virus to turn our way of life upside down on a global scale. Yes, this forced confinement is beneficial to us in a way. It allows us to take a step sideways, to stop running. Take the time to take the time: breathe more deeply, listen to the birdsong, dream and of course think about what’s really important for us and therefore for the Planet […].
Emma Ash and Philippe Ardy exhibit at the Chapelle d’Avigneau
✎ Article by D. P. published in l’Yonne Républicaine on 8 June 2012
From this Friday evening until 1 July, painter Emma Ash and sculptor Philippe Ardy will be exhibiting their work in the Avigneau chapel. These two professional artists have a lot in common. Emma, a self-taught artist, expresses love, life and death on her canvases (collages, acrylics, ink, etc.). Philippe Ardy, having traveled the world, turned to art and began to practice sculpture, as a self-taught artist […].
Oléron : land art
✎ Article by Audrey Emery published in Le Point on 22 August 2016
Until 18 September, the first edition of an art and nature biennial is taking place on the island’s eight communes, with ephemeral works designed by twelve national and international artists. Called Amers, the event is organised by the Collectif d’animation du village d’inspiration des peintres (Cavip), which runs the exhibition huts in the harbour, and the municipality of Saint-Trojan-les-Bains. The theme of this first edition is ‘Refuge’ […].