Theo Elker
E N B R E T A G N E
A WINK
in memory of Pierre Chanteau
Some people overlook them or ignore them. Others discover them by chance, whilst out for a walk or a hike. Others have bought the little booklet 'Serr-Lagad' from a bookshop and are following the few clues leading to their locations. For others, a real treasure hunt begins. I’m talking about the mosaic eye-shaped art installations by the visual artist Pierre Chanteau. I’d like to tell you all about it. Who was this artist and what drove him? How did my encounters with the places, the artworks and the people I met along the way unfold? It’s also time to show you my diary and my photo archive. Yes, I looked each of the mosaics straight in the eye.
A TRIBUTE
What inspired Pierre Chanteau?
Pierre Chanteau is known as a visual artist – he hailed from Carantec in the Bay of Morlaix in the department of Finistère. But Pierre was not an artist who could be pigeonholed. He was a musician, poet, sculptor, craftsman and, above all, a man with a keen eye for the stories that surrounded him.
Born in Brittany in 1958, he developed a special connection to creativity, freedom and expression from an early age. His professional career began as a dental technician. Yet art increasingly became his true calling in life. As a saxophonist, he played in various music projects – first in the band ‘Karroth râpées’ and later in the band ‘Chihuahua’, until the late 1990s – before devoting himself increasingly to the visual arts.
In his studio in Carantec, he created extraordinary sculptural works – always characterised by imagination, humour and great humanity. Pierre was a free spirit. People, encounters, the sea and the culture of Brittany were his sources of inspiration. He believed that art should not only be beautiful, but must also convey a message: to create connections between people, preserve memories and inspire reflection.
photo OUEST FRANCE
« He was an idealist, a poet, a dreamer, a free spirit with a touch of rock and roll »
Jacques Chanteau, his brother
« It is a tribute to the seafaring people who have passed on to us a dazzling maritime heritage, and a reminder of the importance of passing this heritage on. It is an invitation to change the way we view the sea. What was once frightening has become fragile. It is essential that we protect the sea and the ocean. »
What does the symbol of the eye mean?
The eye became the central symbol in Pierre’s artistic work. For him, it was far more than a decorative element.
He was fascinated by maritime history. The ancient seafarers regarded their ships as living beings. As early as antiquity, eyes were painted on the bows of ships. They watched over the crew, guided the ship through treacherous waters, and protected it from capricious gods and sea monsters. They withstood the ‘evil eye’, which portended disaster.
Pierre took up this tradition and symbolism and applied it to Finistère. To him, this region lay like the bow of a great European ship on the edge of the Atlantic – where land and sea meet directly. A mosaic eye symbolises vigilance, protection and connection. It observes, reminds and invites us to look more closely.
What was Pierre’s personal connection to the eyes?
For Pierre Chanteau, his eyes were silent guardians. They were meant to serve as a reminder of the ocean’s untamed power, but also of the people who live with its dangers every day, of those in distress at sea, and of the poor souls who have lost their lives at sea..
Each eye is a poetic symbol of remembrance, of observation and of a connection to the sea. It is also a tribute to sea rescuers – to those men and women who voluntarily risk their own lives to save others in distress at sea. The eyes symbolise solidarity, courage and unity. They are intended to encourage people to pause and become more mindful of the beauty of the sea, its unpredictability and the importance of mutual aid.
« I love maritime history. The ships of antiquity that traded between the Mediterranean and the English Channel had large eyes painted on their bows. They were supposed to ward off bad luck and protect the crews from the dangers of the sea. We’re all in the same boat. Finistère, at the forefront of island trade, has experienced shipwrecks, but also rescues. It is a labour of remembrance. » PC
Why was the booklet ‘Serr-Lagad’ created?
Pierre Chanteau documented the journey and the creation of his ‘eyes’ together with photographer friends in the booklet *Serr-Lagad – Taol-Lagad*, which roughly translates from Breton as ‘wink – moment’.
The booklet (which has since been reprinted) is limited to a single photograph of each mosaic ‘eye’, along with the name of the respective local authority. It is therefore not a traditional documentary featuring detailed information or precise directions. Rather, it is intended to send people on a journey of discovery, giving them the opportunity to find the ‘eyes’ for themselves. This creates a special kind of treasure hunt: anyone wishing to find one of the artworks must walk attentively through the countryside and keep their eyes peeled.
Pierre used the proceeds to support organisations such as the S.N.S.M. (Société Nationale de Sauvetage en Mer) and SOS Méditerranée – an expression of his enduring commitment to people in need.
My booklet – the cover is a misprint –
containing numerous travel notes.
There are several editions.
113
Crafts: the whole of Brittany through Pierre’s eyes!
A lovely video about Pierre’s work
How did Pierre work?
In his studio in Kerdanet (Carantec), Pierre Chanteau worked with materials that already had a history. His art was born out of reuse and transformation. From materials that appeared to be worthless, Pierre created new works of art with an identity of their own.
The eyes are usually made up of:
• glass or ceramic elements
• pieces of bottle necks
• glass beads
• electrical insulation serving as the iris
He crafted each eye by hand. No two works were exactly alike. Each bore the traces of its materials, his craftsmanship and the place for which it was intended.
Between 2018 and 2019, Pierre travelled the length of Finistère’s coastline – some 1.430 kilometres – and the offshore islands. This is how his major project came about: an artistic trail comprising 113 eyes for 113 coastal villages.
« I have collected some of these fragments myself; others have been brought to me by passers-by, and many people leave them outside my studio » PC
« All the same, yet all different; each one is unique »
Le Conquet, Digue Sainte Barbe
photo OUEST FRANCE
Where were the eyes installed?
When Pierre donated an eye to each of the 113 municipalities in Finistère, his only condition was the consent of the relevant mayor and a location situated, if possible, directly on the coast or on the banks of a river.
The eyes were installed in special locations: in harbours, on jetties, quay walls, breakwaters, rocks or buildings overlooking the Atlantic or a river. Many locations were deliberately chosen to reflect the history of the place or to allow the works to interact with the tides. Some eyes disappear completely at high tide and reappear at low tide – like a brief wink from the sea.
The locations themselves shape the impact of the artworks: rugged cliffs, small fishing harbours, islands and secluded coves provide the backdrop for this extraordinary fusion of art and landscape.
Where did the first eye come from?
The first of what would later become the famous eyes was created in Locquénolé – a place with a special connection to Pierre, as he was born very close by.
From there, the idea developed into a much larger project. What began as a single artistic gesture eventually became a unique art trail stretching along the entire coast of Finistère.
The first mosaic-eye created by Pierre was still fairly simple compared to his later works. Locquénolé 2018
« It’s just a temporary installation; the sea will have the final say. It’s time to stop leaving our mark; we can leave stories and memories behind, but what I want, above all, is to leave a little bit of unspoilt nature for future generations. » PC
How were the eyes maintained and repaired?
Pierre did not simply regard his mosaics as finished works of art. To him, they were living companions – almost like his own children. Whenever he was out and about on the coast, he would visit his works and check on their condition. The Atlantic leaves its mark: salt, wind, waves and storms take their toll on the mosaics. Pierre repaired damaged eyes, replaced individual elements and ensured that his works remained part of the coastal landscape. Following his death, the task of maintaining these works of art now falls to those who wish to preserve his legacy.
Unfortunately, cases of negligent and wilful damage to the eyes are becoming increasingly common. Some mosaics have since been stolen. Others appear to have been permanently and severely damaged during attempted thefts. The destruction and theft of these unique, one-of-a-kind pieces leave one speechless and saddened. This is one reason – amongst many others – why I, too, am telling Pierre’s story in words and pictures.
How did the creation of eyes for private individuals come about?
As a result, many a visual treasure-hunter competes to see who has found and visited all the mosaics.
However, no one can claim to have seen all the mosaics, with the exception of Pierre himself and perhaps his closest loved ones. For alongside the 113 ‘official’ creations, Pierre has also produced works of art for friends and fans as commissioned pieces – no less skilfully crafted and created from the heart.
There is no official information on the exact number, but there are likely to be quite a few.
my booklet – I’d jotted down the places where I’d found mosaic eyes belonging to private individuals in Portsall – and the theft of the eye in the port of Argenton
His Death and His Legacy
Pierre Chanteau died on 28 March 2025 at the age of 66, following a long illness.
The news of his death sparked a great outpouring of sympathy across Brittany. Many people remembered an artist who had created not only works on public display, but also encounters and memories. A final farewell was held for him at the Saint-Thégonnec crematorium.
Pierre Chanteau will live on: in his eyes made of glass and ceramics, along the long coastline of Finistère, to the rhythm of the tides. His art serves as a reminder to remain attentive – to observe, to protect and never to forget the connection between people and the sea.
Bon Vent, Kenavo Pierre !