Following the devastating wildfires of 2022, which destroyed over two thousand hectares of land in the Monts d'Arrée region of Brittany, the Saint-Michel Chapel in Brasparts has been fully restored, thanks to the generous support of François Pinault.

As part of the restoration project, Ronan Bouroullec has reimagined the entire ecclesiastical furniture of the chapel, including the altar, the central cross, and the candle holders. In addition, a circular blurred mirror has been installed, gracefully capturing the natural light. The mirror serves as the chapel's sole source of illumination, creating a serene and peaceful ambiance within the space.

"The whole challenge of the project lies in the almost magical operation of creating lightness with mass," explains Martin Bethenod, former Deputy General Director of the Bourse de Commerce - Pinault Collection. "It's a delicate balance between the paradoxical relationship of the granite block console's mass and its almost suspended state on steel feet that extend into candle holders. It's the equilibrium between the weight of the mirror and its intangible, almost unreal dimension."

Further in his text, Bethenod mentions the concept of parsimony: "This principle, employed in the world of philosophy of science, states that the beauty of a scientific proposition lies in its ability to explain much with little. Saint-Michel de Brasparts embodies this notion of 'little'. Three elements, three materials—the rhythm is almost like that of a haiku—accompanied by a scarce and fragile light."

The chapel is now open to the public.

© Claire Lavabre - Studio Bouroullec

Bas-Relief
Ronan Bouroullec

Flou Mirror Round
Ronan Bouroullec

2022
Ronan Bouroullec