Yann Kersalé

Yann Kersale is a French artist, sculptor and designer, born in 1955. He specialises in architectural lighting and chooses night as his preferred backdrop when designing. Kersale graduated from the École des Beaux-Arts in Quimper in 1978, before creating his first lighting experiment in the 1980's; his first work was on the Fourvière Metal Tower, in Lyon, as a prototype for the Eiffel Tower.

At the end of the 1980s, Joël Batteux, mayor of Saint-Nazaire, commissioned him to create an installation. Instead, Kersale convinced him to create a permanent show, which led to the Nuit des Docks in 1991. Yann Kersale creates luminous installations in urban areas, as well as in nature and has travelled the world for over 30 years, seeking inspiration for the architectural and geographical themes in his work.

"Light is an essential feature of life. It is just as important as acoustics or temperature. If light is too aggressive, it’s harmful. Well-being requires different levels of light, different “climates”. And of course, there is a psychological relationship with light. “Good” light is like a good meal, it’s about balancing the ingredients." - Yann Kersale