Three rings of bronze. That’s what makes up Le Cri Sculpture. It stands 3.70 meters high. Each ring is welded together to form a chain.
Le Cri Sculpture was created by Fabrice Hyber. He is a French artist of international renown. The artwork commemorates the abolition of slavery. You can find Le Cri Sculpture in the eastern part of the Jardin du Luxembourg. It is near the exit toward Boulevard Saint-Michel.
The creation of Le Cri Sculpture came from a public order. The President of the Republic announced it. This was during the first commemoration day in France. It marked the abolition of the slave trade and slavery. Jacques Chirac and Nicolas Sarkozy inaugurated it on May 10, 2007. They were the outgoing and newly elected presidents.
Le Cri Sculpture has two distinct faces. One side is curved and painted a dark color. The other is flat. It features red and green ribs against a white background. This side has words in relief related to slavery.
Near Le Cri Sculpture, a plaque explains its symbolism. The lower ring symbolizes roots. The middle ring represents the ongoing possibility of slavery. The upper ring, open, symbolizes abolition. The reverse side lists dates marking abolition. It also commemorates slavery in France. An excerpt from Aimé Césaire’s Cahier d’un retour au pays natal is included.
Fabrice Hyber sees Le Cri Sculpture as a symbol. He said the cry marks the abolition of slavery. It also warns against modern slavery. The cry expresses fear and tears. But it also expresses joy. He considers it a metaphor for the enslavement abolished by texts. For the garden in front of the Senate, a written piece was needed. Abolition is the open ring of the chain. The closed ring means it could all start again. The base represents a return to the roots. But it is also the Earth as a burden.
Since 2017, the national day for memories of the slave trade has been held here. It also remembers slavery and its abolition. Every May 10, a commemoration takes place in the Jardin du Luxembourg. The President of the Republic attends. So do elected officials, association representatives, and residents.
French colony slaves contributed to universal human rights. They also contributed to the ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity. These ideals founded the Republic. France pays homage to them here with Le Cri Sculpture.
Fabrice Hyber responded to a public call for submissions. It was for a commemorative work by the French government. He consulted with Black people in many countries to formulate it.
While Le Cri Sculpture seems fragile, it is supported by a five-ton pedestal. This pedestal is buried in the earth. Hyber said his sculpture is more robust than the garden’s stone statues.
The artist intended to portray fragility. It reflects the fragility of the law, societal constructs, and humanity. Hyber knew using a chain was a cliché. But he split the chain open. This allows viewers to look inside. They see a fictional structure. It has vascular elements evoking intersections of life.
Le Cri Sculpture invites reflection. Art for social causes should do this. The words “Elsewhere,” “Decimated,” and “Exterminated” are engraved. So are “Deported,” “Dead,” and “Inhuman.” Also included are “Values,” “Displaced,” and “Slave.” These words serve as a stark reminder of slavery’s horrors. The dates listed mark significant moments in the fight against it. Le Cri Sculpture stands as a testament to the past. It also serves as a warning for the future.