A massive granite sculpture called the "Moai of Fraternity" is currently on display at the Jardin des Explorateurs (Garden of Explorers) in Brest, France, where visitors can view the impressive artwork until January 7th. The monumental statue stands 20 feet tall and weighs an incredible 22 tons, making it a striking centerpiece at the riverside garden location.
After its temporary exhibition in Brest, the sculpture will be permanently relocated to the Valley of Saints in Carnoët. This unique site in Brittany, established in 2008, houses nearly 200 statues and has become a remarkable outdoor sculpture park that celebrates Breton heritage and culture.
The Moai of Fraternity, also known as "Mana Tapu Ao," was created in September at the Valley of Saints through an extraordinary collaboration between two sculptors from Easter Island and two Breton artists. According to representatives from the Valley of Saints, this sculpture symbolizes "the alliance between two peoples who carry ancestral histories, commitments to peace, and living memory." The organizers felt it was essential to present the sculpture in Brest, describing the city as "where it all began."
The connection between Brest and Easter Island dates back to 1785, when naval officer Fleuriot de Langle embarked as second-in-command to Jean-François de La Pérouse aboard the frigates La Boussole and L'Astrolabe. On August 1st of that year, the crew departed from Brest on a scientific mission to the Pacific Ocean. In April 1786, the expedition reached Easter Island, which remained mysterious and largely unknown to Europe at the time.
Fleuriot de Langle, who was both a scholar and cartographer, created the first precise map of Easter Island during this historic voyage. His detailed work immortalized the island's coastlines and its famous Moai statues, providing Europe with its first accurate geographic understanding of this remote Pacific island. When published in 1787, this groundbreaking map marked a significant turning point in global exploration and scientific understanding of the Pacific region.
