French street art icon Jef Aérosol has unveiled his latest work on Noirmoutier Island, adding a fourth mural to complete the Street Art trail in Noirmoutier-en-l'Île. The project, which began in spring, previously featured works by artists LadyBug at Le Vieil, and Moon and 2FLUI in the town center.

The new black and white mural depicts a child listening to the sound of the sea through a seashell and has been installed on the wall of Espace Léa-Beaugé in Noirmoutier-en-l'Île, Vendée. "The idea was to occupy the entire wall. The electrical line placed in the middle of the wall gave me the idea to add text with a mirror effect," explained the celebrated artist, who is known for his monumental 350-square-meter self-portrait "Chuuutt!!!" displayed in front of the Tinguely and Niki de Saint Phalle fountains at Place Stravinsky in Paris's Beaubourg district.

The artwork is accompanied by a poem written by Bernard Perroy, the artist's brother, taken from his collection "Chaque mot retrouvé" (Every Word Found Again). Jef Aérosol emphasized the collaborative nature of the piece, stating, "The work must be adapted to the wall, to the context of Le Vieil, to Noirmoutier Island, to the music school, and to the former school. The ideas of sound, childhood, and school were all there. I collaborated with my brother Bernard Perroy. I love the rhythm and elliptical nature of his text."

The murmur of the seashell in the artwork creates a symbolic connection to the music school located at the end of the street, while the neighboring library reinforces the literary link of this creation. "Childhood represents innocence, the future, and naturalness," the artist noted, explaining his choice of subject matter.

Jef Aérosol, an emblematic figure of French street art, has been developing the art of stenciling since 1982 using his signature tool – the aerosol spray can, from which he derived his artistic name. Originally from Nantes, he painted his first stencil in Tours before expanding to walls in numerous cities throughout France and internationally. Each of his works features a small red arrow that serves as a second signature.

"Over the years, I got rid of color and adopted the red arrow. Sometimes the mass of the drawing is counterbalanced by the small arrow, sometimes the arrow points to a detail," the artist explained about his distinctive style evolution. Le Vieil holds special significance for Jef Aérosol as a family stronghold, where he enjoys visiting during the off-season, remarking, "I love the winter sun."

Since 2011, Jef Aérosol's "Chuuuttt" mural has been part of the Parisian landscape, cementing his reputation as one of France's most recognized street artists. The completion of this fourth mural marks a significant milestone in Noirmoutier's cultural development and its emerging identity as a destination for contemporary street art.