The Serpent of the Ocean (or Serpent d'ocean in French) is one of the most remarkable works of art in Europe and is little known. The large aluminum structure depicts a skeleton of a long twisting sea serpent.
The Serpent of the Ocean has been built in the intertidal zone and is one of the great hidden gems of France. France is a great time to discover many excellent works of art - take the time to explore the Louvre Museum in Paris and see the Mona Lisa and other masterpieces. Not far up the coast from the Serpent of the Ocean is the remarkable Neolithic site of the Stones of Carnac.
The Serpent of the Ocean is located on the coast at Saint-Brevin-les-Pins in Loire-Atlantique on the west coast of France. The area was part of the historic Duchy of Brittany. Brittany is a historical region that was very different from the rest of France. It has a Celtic heritage and has its own Breton language (related to Welsh and Irish). The reason why the island of Great Britain is called "Great" is to distinguish it from "Lesser Brittany" in France (they are both called "Bretagne" in French).
Go across the English Canal and head down the coast of France to Loire-Atlantique and see what is perhaps the most eye-catching art installation along the French Atlantic coast.
The Serpent of the Ocean has been constructed out of aluminum and stretches for 130 meters or 430 feet. It is a monumental work of art well worth seeing for anyone exploring the Brittany region of France. It was built around 20 years ago in 2012 by the artist Huang Yong Ping.
While sea monsters (like the Kraken) are not real, a glimpse at the Serpent of the Ocean is enough to set one's mind wild. It is an imaginary giant sea serpent emerging from the Loire estuary where it joins the Atlantic Ocean. The art installation is both simple and yet powerful.
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As the Serpent of the Ocean has been built in the intertidal zone, it offers a different experience at different tidal stages. So plan to revisit the sculpture more than once during the day.
At low tide, the water comes up to the tail of the sea serpent. At high tide, the water reaches the head. The monumental structure is therefore submerged at high tide and exposed at low tide. Go at low tide, and it is possible to walk around the sea serpent. Go at low tide, and only the head and the top of the vertebrae are visible. It is an attraction that appears dramatically different depending on the tides, the weather, and the roughness of the sea.
While the structure is sturdy, the skeleton terminates with a thin, whip-like tail. It cuts and moves gracefully with the movement of the water, making it appear as if the tail is propelling the serpent toward the shore. The Serpent of the Ocean's skeleton was also built to mirror the curves of the nearby Saint-Nazaire bridge.
The Serpent of the Ocean is one of the free attractions in France and very much should be on any French road trip bucket list. While France can be an expensive country to visit, it is also home to a number of free and unique attractions as well.
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Huang Yong Ping was a famous Chinese artist who moved to France in 1989 (he died in 2019 at the age of 65). He was born in 1954 in Xiamen, China. He was famous for being one of the most provocative and controversial artists of the Chinese art scene during the 1980s. Many of his works of art are very large and can't be moved or auctioned.
He sometimes used creatures from Chinese mythology to inspire people (as with this eye-catching serpent). It is claimed the message of the Sea Serpent is environmental, speaking to the mistreatment of the oceans.
It is an inspiring experience to see this menacingly undead snake accumulating algae over the years. Later in 2016, Huang Yong Ping built another even larger serpent skeleton as part of the Monumenta series for the Grand Palais in Paris. That massive serpent measured some 240 meters or 790 feet.
There are plenty of excellent but unusual art installations around the world. Another thought-provoking place to visit is Buddha Park in the Southeast Asian nation of Laos. In the Indian state of Gujarat, travelers can see the largest statue in the world, which was only completed in 2018.