A new mural, created by the essential Rennes artist WAR, can be seen on Rue Carthage in the city centre. It represents a hummingbird in flight, holding in its beak not a cheese, but a burning match! Executed recently, this fresco is one of the classics of the most famous artist from Rennes. But for once, the expressive lines of his bird, painted with vigorous brushstrokes, contrast with the precise detail of the match. They add real depth to the graffiti, enhanced by the phrase “Hummingbirds are beautiful”. Which speaks volumes about the graffiti artist’s attachment to the splendour and weakness of nature!
Symbol of resilience and beauty, the hummingbird plays a crucial role in the ecosystem as a pollinator by foraging from flower to flower! But in the context of the recent legislative elections in France, this work also takes on an additional dimension. It is like a metaphor for the fragility of democracy, at the mercy of divisions and destructive conflicts. It invites us to think about respecting the protection of nature and species, beyond political divisions.
As a reminder, let’s reread the legend of the hummingbird for a moment! One day, there was a huge forest fire. All the animals were terrified and terrified, watching the disaster helplessly. Only the little hummingbird was busy, fetching a few drops with its beak to throw on the fire. After a while, the armadillo, annoyed by this ridiculous agitation, said to him: “Hummingbird! Aren’t you crazy? You’re not going to put out the fire with these drops of water!” And the hummingbird replied: “I know, but I’m doing my part.” If the hummingbird starts spreading fire… See it along the wall of the old Gaumont cinema.
