The commission

As a material used for millions of years in many civilisations, cob or wattle and daub in construction has declined in Europe over the last century. Currently, its multiple qualities are being rediscovered as it is in fact an extremely economical, healthy and ecological material. The objective is to highlight this ancient building material and to draw attention to the traditional practice of the game of quilles, like skittles, with the construction of a contemporary work in the form of a covered skittles alley.

The artwork

The future skittle alley in Montreuil-sur-Mer is to serve to illustrate the use of cob and will enable a series of apprenticeship activities around the use of this material. At the same time it will be a building that will enable skittle players to play and organise competitions. There will be an alley adapted for children so that they can learn the game. This project will make a link between a traditional game and contemporary art. Stéphane Magnin proposes a « super use » of recycling in all aspects of the project to raise awareness to the environment, ecology and healthy materials. The project is collective as the artist is working with an architect and engineer.

The artist

Stéphane Magnin was born in 1965. He lives and works in Cap d'Ail. Alongside his practice as a designer and architect, he teaches at the Villa Arson Fine art school in Nice and also curates exhibitions. Stéphane Magnin is a catalyser of ideas and projects which he puts into practice with protean art works. Many of Stéphane Magnin's projects include a participative element, notably with his "temporary meeting surfaces".