Child’s play: French artist Saype’s giant ephemeral frescoes takeover Swiss alpine resort

Much of Saype’s art works revolve around child’s play but that doesn’t mean to say there’s anything simple about it. Childhood observations lie at the heart of what the French artist describes as a child’s ongoing adventure to become the ‘author of his own destiny,’ but they’re also meant to remind us that possibilties are endless.

That’s precisely why Saype has picked the peaks of a Swiss ski resort, Villars-Gryon-Diablerets, to show off his latest pieces; enormous ephemeral frescoes, composed with environmentally-friendly paints and materials.

Saype, who’s real name is Guillaume Legros, said: “This is the kind of artwork I create all over the world, and it’s part of a series that began four years ago in Villars, where I’ve been crafting a story that spans several years—and it’s usually the children who, year after year, develop or create the story themselves.”

Largely made by using chalk and charcoal, Saype’s creations are both compelling and immense. Nature also plays an intrinsic part in the works, highlighting the fragility of the environment and the art’s temporary status.

“The challenge is twofold. It’s physical because there’s a bit of a slope…and there’s the weather, I had to deal with thunderstorms, wind, rain, so that’s always what makes it complicated for me,” explains Saype.

From New York to Nairobi, Saype’s stunning creations have been exhibited around the world on various canvases including grass, earth, sand and snow.

Each piece is intended to slowly but deliberately disappear, to emphasise the challenges facing societies and humanity.

Saype’s second fresco, created at the Bretaye pass, depicts a child drawing the sun and clouds; this drawing is part of a diptych, the other fresco being located a little further down in the resort.

“This is the first time I’ve used colour in my drawings. Kids have been inspired by the cosmos, by adventures, and by their observations—and for the first time, they’re putting that into drawings, and the drawings come to life. That’s why I added colour—it feels as though the sky is reflected in the drawings, and my idea is to convey that the cosmos acts as a kind of window onto the world,” says Saype.

Time is running out however if you want to catch sight of Saype’s latest ephemeral creations. The extremely dry conditions in Switzerland have meant the grass has hardly grown but predicted wet weather and storms will fast alter the outlook.

For Saype, the end is always bittersweet but something still worth celebrating.

“I love that moment because, ultimately, it’s when nature reclaims what I’ve created. But basically, I think it’ll be visible until the end of August without too many problems.”