Âne Planté

French sculptor François-Xavier Lalanne is renowned for his fantastical animal-themed sculptures that integrate aesthetic appeal with functionality. He has long lived in the rural French town of Ury. He draws inspiration from the garden and the countryside, transforming everyday animal forms into imaginative and concrete sculptures. His works echo the solemn shapes of ancient Egyptian art while inheriting the humor and fantasy of Surrealism. Âne Planté features a simple yet slightly contemplative expression and a plump, sturdy body, together with the flowers it carries on its back, all of which creates a stage where nature and fantasy intertwine, evoking people’s imagination and longing for a pastoral life.