A striking new sculpture featuring a vintage Citroën 2CV trapped in the tentacles of a giant kraken has been unveiled at Place du Vendée Globe in Les Sables-d'Olonne, France. The artwork, titled 'The Revenge of the Abyss' (La revanche des abysses), was installed on the evening of August 7, 2025, as part of the Grande Bordée sea festival organized by the Commune Libre de la Chaume. The sculpture represents a collaboration between festival organizers and artist Julien Vrignaud, designed to raise awareness about ocean conservation.

The installation has already generated significant discussion since its placement at the entrance to the festival grounds, where celebrations will take place from August 15-17. The artwork delivers a powerful environmental message that resonates with the Commune Libre de la Chaume's ecological values. Jean-Carol Lézé, coordinator of the Grande Bordée festival, explained the sculpture's deeper meaning: 'It highlights the paradox between the industrial era and the necessity of ecological awareness for future generations. It's the sea saying stop, the kraken regurgitating all the waste accumulated over recent decades.'

The sculpture holds special symbolic significance through its use of an actual donated vehicle. The 1984 Citroën 2CV belonged to Dominique, a long-time volunteer with the Commune Libre association. The car had been deteriorating in her garden at La Chaume, failing inspection and requiring expensive repairs she couldn't afford. 'I didn't have the means to repair it, but at the same time, I didn't have the heart to send it to the scrapyard,' Dominique explained. The vehicle held sentimental value, having been given to her by family and friends for her 50th birthday. 'As someone who is sensitive to ecological issues, I'm delighted with this project,' she said about the transformation of her car into artwork.

Artist Julien Vrignaud provided an extensive artistic statement about his creation: 'Like a relic of the industrial era, the 2CV rests suspended between two worlds: that of man and that of the sea. But here, the kraken is no longer a simple creature of legend. It embodies an angry nature, a primitive force emerging from the depths to assert its presence. Its tentacles grip the rusted carcass of the car, symbol of a century of exploitation, frenzied mobility, and oil dependence.' He continued, 'This sculpture is not a fantasy scene: it's a silent cry, a visual metaphor of our era. The sea, saturated with plastic and hydrocarbons, seems to reclaim its rights. It no longer suffers, it acts.'

Vrignaud further elaborated on the conceptual framework: 'The kraken becomes the voice of the ocean, deploying its power to engulf the traces of our mechanical carelessness. This confrontation between myth and metal raises questions: what remains when technology is exhausted and nature demands justice? The 2CV, icon of accessible progress, becomes here the prey of a world we thought we had tamed. The work invites us to rethink our place, to hear the rumble of the waters, before it's too late.'

The creation process involved significant preparation and artistic labor. Vrignaud volunteered his time for the Grande Bordée festival, beginning by removing the engine and all contents from the car's shell before having it crushed. 'I then worked from this form for about a hundred hours to create this revenge of the abyss, which symbolizes nature taking control to avenge itself against man,' the artist explained. The sculpture represents a fusion of environmental activism and artistic expression, transforming what would have been automotive waste into a thought-provoking statement piece.

The installation is designed as a temporary but impactful display. Throughout the duration of the Grande Bordée festival, the sculpture will be illuminated and enhanced with smoke effects to create a dramatic nighttime presentation. After the festival concludes, 'The Revenge of the Abyss' will be removed from Place du Vendée Globe and relocated to its future owner, ensuring the artwork continues its mission of environmental awareness beyond the festival period. The sculpture serves as both the artistic centerpiece and symbolic launch of the Grande Bordée celebrations, embodying the festival's commitment to ocean conservation and environmental responsibility.