André Pailloux, Moulins a vents (Whirligigs)

André Pailloux had a technical job in the shipyards of Sables d’Olonne, not far from his home in Brem sur Mer, a small community that faces the Atlantic Ocean in the Vendée area of France. Around 2000, before he retired, he began decorating the front garden of his house with rotating items on poles, recycling a variety of objects, including old bicycle wheels.

After his retirement, Pailloux continued working, and today his garden is completely filled with whirligigs, all painted in such bright colors that they appear to be a kaleidoscope turning in the wind. Because this region is near the ocean, there is always enough wind to keep them moving, but the salt air is also damaging for the paint and the moving parts of the constructions. Pailloux has much to do to keep the whirligigs in good condition and in working order.

Besides making windmills, André Pailloux has also decorated some bicycles in an incredibly lavish way. Despite their elaborate adornments, these bikes actually can be ridden, but the local police have asked him to refrain from doing so on main roads, because it is a distraction for other drivers.

The site with the whirligigs, situated along the Chemin de la Bacqueville, can be easily seen from the street.

~Henk van Es

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