This series is particularly important in GRATALOUP’s artwork. Indeed, the theme of the Great Trees will be taken up in many forms (paintings, lithography, urban art).

The series will be exhibited at the Galerie Lavignes-Bastille (Paris) through a personal exhibition. It is also on the occasion of the latter that the artist will meet a collector who, impressed by his paintings, will put him in contact with Michel Moritz, architect and head of the EPAD. Also fascinated by the works, he entrusted the artist with the realization of an immense mosaic on a ventilation tower of the Esplanade de La Défense in Paris. With this theme and the realization of this exceptional urban work of art, the artist will engrave his imprint and install his notoriety.

It was a very complicated tree, but it interested me precisely in its complexities. It was a tree of Japanese origin that I planted in my garden. It didn’t grow very high, just over two metres. But its Complications seemed so infinite to me that I imagined it as a tree thirty meters high. Thus was the height of the mosaic work that I then carried out for the realization of the «Three Trees» on the Esplanade of Paris La Défense. Is there a coincidence? It was during my exhibition on the «Grands Arbres» at the Galerie Lavignes-Bastille, my second exhibition in this gallery, that a collector in love with my work came out with a catalogue in hand. He showed it to Michel Moritz, architect at the EPAD, responsible for all the major works of art. The latter no doubt spoke of it to the President of the EPAD who gave his agreement for the realization of a huge decoration, on an air tower of the Esplanade de la Défense in Paris."