Life in the forest

Sennecey le grand | 2024

The forest throughout the eyes of young and old

For one afternoon, the walls of the Sennecey-le-Grand youth centre were transformed into a veritable living forest, thanks to the intervention of artist Julie Laforêt. This artistic project, born out of close collaboration with the departmental association of care homes for adults with disabilities, offered young and old alike the opportunity to immerse themselves in the mysterious and enchanting world of forests, an inexhaustible source of inspiration and dreams.

After walks in the countryside dedicated to collecting plant treasures, participants were able to observe, touch and soak up the often invisible details of the forest: who is hiding under the foliage? What secrets does the bark hold? Armed with brushes and natural inks, carefully prepared by the artist, everyone was able to contribute to a collective fresco, in the style of an exquisite corpse, where each artistic gesture follows on from and is enriched by the imagination of the person next to them.

The youngest participants, particularly the nursery school children, also benefited from the presence of Lucie from the municipal library. Through storytelling, she opened the doors to their imaginations, inviting them to see the forest in a new light, populated by fantastical creatures and stories waiting to be invented.
This moment of shared creativity helped to forge links between generations and audiences, while celebrating the beauty and richness of nature. It was a unique experience, where art became a universal language for dreaming, sharing and marvelling together.