A life-sized bronze sculpture of renowned French writer Victor Hugo has been created by celebrated fashion designer Nicole Farhi CBE for the Channel Island of Guernsey, where the literary giant spent nearly two decades of his life in exile. The impressive artwork will be officially unveiled at a special dinner event on November 1st at the prestigious Old Government House Hotel.
The unveiling ceremony is strategically timed to commemorate the 170th anniversary of Victor Hugo's arrival on the island, marking a significant milestone in the cultural history of Guernsey. Hugo first arrived on the island on October 31, 1855, beginning what would become a transformative period in his literary career that lasted 19 years in the Channel Islands.
During his extended stay in Guernsey, Hugo wrote some of his most celebrated and enduring works, including completing his masterpiece "Les Misérables" while residing on the island. This period of exile proved to be remarkably productive for the French author, who used his time in the Channel Islands to create literature that would have lasting global impact.
The sculpture project is connected to broader efforts to honor Hugo's legacy on the island. In August, a charitable organization working to establish a Victor Hugo Centre announced significant progress in their fundraising efforts, having raised $3 million toward their ambitious $7.5 million target. The proposed center would serve as a multi-purpose cultural and educational venue dedicated to preserving and celebrating Hugo's contributions to literature and humanitarian causes.
For Nicole Farhi and her husband, award-winning playwright Sir David Hare, the upcoming visit to Guernsey will mark their first time setting foot on the island. Farhi, who has gained international recognition in the fashion world before transitioning to sculpture, expressed deep appreciation for Hugo's enduring influence and the island's role in his life.
"Victor Hugo's legacy of literature, poetry and art, as well as his humanitarian values of human rights, social justice, equality and freedom, have an enduring significance in France, Guernsey and world-wide," Farhi stated. She emphasized the personal meaning behind her artistic contribution, saying, "To mark 170 years since Hugo arrived in Guernsey on 31 October 1855, I am offering this life-size bronze bust to honor the island that sheltered and inspired him."
Farhi concluded her remarks with a poetic reflection on the sculpture's symbolic importance: "Let it stand as a small bridge between France and Guernsey, between art and conscience, between the past of exile and the present of welcome." The sculpture represents not only an artistic tribute but also a tangible connection between Hugo's French origins and his adopted island home, where he found both refuge and inspiration during a crucial period of his creative life.
