A bronze sculpture of renowned French writer Victor Hugo has been unveiled in Guernsey to commemorate the 170th anniversary of his arrival on the Channel Island. The bust was created by French fashion designer and sculptor Nicole Farhi and was officially unveiled at the Old Government House Hotel on Saturday.
The sculpture has been generously donated to the Victor Hugo Centre as a tribute to the literary giant who spent 19 years in the Channel Islands. During his time there, Hugo wrote some of his most celebrated works, including completing his masterpiece "Les Misérables" while living in Guernsey. This period proved to be one of the most productive in the author's career.
Farhi explained that her inspiration for creating the sculpture came from her recent exhibition focusing on miscarriages of justice, which led to her "immediately feeling an affinity" with Hugo. The writer was a passionate campaigner against social injustice and capital punishment throughout his life, actively intervening in several legal cases to fight for justice. "The exhibition had been about us being in touch with our humanity, which is exactly what Victor Hugo had been doing," Farhi said.
The artist made a deliberate choice to portray Hugo as a younger man than he has typically been depicted in previous artistic representations. She worked from photographs to capture her vision of the writer. "There's a freedom you have when the person is not sitting, you can express exactly what you feel about that person. This is my perception of Victor Hugo," Farhi explained about her creative process.
Larry Malcic, chairman of the proposed Victor Hugo Centre, expressed his enthusiasm about receiving the artwork. He described the gift of the bust as "a fabulous moment for the centre and for the island." Malcic emphasized the significance of the timing, stating, "To be unveiling this major work of art on the 170th anniversary of Hugo's arrival on the island is fantastic. It's the tribute of one great artist to another great artist."
