Lunel: eventful return for the Pescalune statue on Place de la République

La statue a été délicatement posée sur son socle. Midi Libre – JPS

Réparation d’urgence de la canne à pêche. Midi Libre – JPS

Le transport de l’œuvre réalisée par l’artiste Ben K n’a pas été de tout repos.

A big scare. This Wednesday, July 10, early in the morning, the artist Ben K, the City and the technical services must have demonstrated quite a zenitude. Expected at 9:30 sharp to be delicately placed on its new space on the edge of Place de la République and Cours Péri, approximately 7m from the location where it was there since its erection in 2006, the statue of Pescalune took three quarters of an hour to wait.

An incident on avenue Gaston-Baissette

A straw finally compared to a postponement of the installation of several days and the cancellation of the celebration of the return which were very briefly considered. The reason ? The work in 4 m and 3.5 tons was damaged during its transport. We explain. Stored since the beginning of the year in the technical services where it underwent a little rejuvenation, the Pescalune and its base took the road, this Wednesday, at the scheduled time. Alas, at the height of Avenue Gaston-Baissette, a telephone cable wrapped itself around the curved tip of the statue's long and fragile fishing rod, breaking a small segment of the patina.

Return via Quai Voltaire taken in the opposite direction

The work then returned to the technical services to be examined, after which, the damage being limited, it was decided and accepted by the artist, to deal with the most urgent and repair the Pescalune on site so as not to cancel the announced return and party.
A return which was finally made by avoiding avenue Gaston-Baissette and taking avenue des Abrivados then quai Voltaire in the opposite direction. On the installation side, it was with the utmost caution that the reinforced concrete base and then the Pescalune were installed mid-morning. A relief for Ben K who, however, was unable to fully appreciate this moment: « I'm disappointed, it's a disaster. I repaired it in an emergency and it’s not what I like the most. The patina piece will have to be redone. We can't leave it like that. » As for its new location, Ben K would have preferred «  a little more symmetry because I find it leaning and I like it less » but he was pleased that, from now on, his Pescalune looks at the Statue of Liberty . « He looks to the future and that suits me », Ben K slipped.
Like the legend, the day finally ended well around a small friendly party shared by a crowd of Lunel residents who were very proud to find their statue. No one knows if one day the incident of that day will not in turn enter into the legend of Pescalune.

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