Inhabited sculpture
The artist's term for a work that is sculpture and building at once.
DimiTalen — CC0 · Androuet du Cerceau, Jacques (Paris, entre 1510 et 1520 - Annecy, entre 1584 et 1586), graveur — CC0 · Androuet du Cerceau, Jacques (Paris, entre 1510 et 1520 - Annecy, entre 1584 et 1586), graveur — CC0 · Dujardin, Karel (Amsterdam, entre 1622 et 9–1626 - Venise, 20–11–1678), aquafortiste — CC0
A monumental sculpture of a squared human head about twenty-six metres high, by the artist Sacha Sosno, and at the same time a working administrative building belonging to Nice's central library. That is what makes it exceptional: it is not a monument standing beside a building but the building itself. The square upper part holds three floors of library offices, with windows integrated into the design of the face. The artist called this kind of work inhabited sculpture. The face has a distinctive manner: features simplified almost to abstraction, with a nose and eyes defined within a severe square mass. From a distance it reads clearly as a head; up close it becomes a wall. A plain practical point: it cannot be entered — the floors are working offices and are not visitable. The visit means standing in front of it and looking, and minutes are enough. The location is north of central Nice near the library and national theatre, walking distance from Place Masséna.
The artist's term for a work that is sculpture and building at once.
Library offices look out through openings built into the features.
A clear head from afar, a wall up close.
By the Louis Nucéra library, north of central Nice
Place GaribaldiThe oldest planned square in Nice and its largest, laid out in the late eighteen3 minutes walk4.4
Castle Hill CemeteryOn the summit of the castle hill, where Nice's citadel stood before Louis XIV de7 minutes walk4.9
Palais LascarisThe Palais Lascaris hides in the narrowest lanes of old Nice: a façade that prom7 minutes walk4.5
Cathédrale Sainte-RéparateIn old Nice's lane-maze, Place Rossetti opens suddenly onto a Baroque cathedral 8 minutes walk4.7
The Church of Saint James the GreaterA Jesuit church in old Nice, built in the seventeenth century and known locally 8 minutes walk4.7No. The three floors are working administrative offices belonging to the library, with no visits and no viewing platform. The work is seen from outside only, which is what it was made for.
A walk north of central Nice: the main library beside it, the Promenade du Paillon running towards Place Masséna, and the national theatre. The whole area takes an hour to walk, with the Tête Carrée a point on it rather than a destination.