This is the bridge I painted to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of my home city Caen (Normandy).
Each pattern or pictogram is a reference to a specific event of the city’s rich history. I painted them in chronological order, starting with the Middle Ages on the left, the 100-year war, the foundation of the University, and reaching the French Revolution in the middle of the bridge where I wrote the name of the city. Then further to the right patterns refer to the modern era, the industrial revolution, the foundation of the football club, the second war, and then the newest buildings like the 2 concert halls.
I’ve called the work “Fiu du tans” which literally means “string of time” but is a phrase meaning “over time” in Norman.
It was great fun painting above the water right in the heart of my city! Big thank you to Mathias Courtet for choosing me and trusting me with this large scale mural!
Seb Toussaint 