In 1992 Francois-Xavier Lalanne was commissioned to create a group of geese for the town of Sarlat’s central square. The town, located in the French region of Périgord is famous for its local delicacy the foie gras, even naming its main square “Place du Marché aux Oies” where a group of three FXL’s geese can still be found today.   

For his early collector and friend Madame X., Francois-Xavier Lalanne had an idea to place a group of five “Wild Geese” next to the flock of his iconic “Moutons”. Over the years, the husband-and-wife team will place many of their sculptures creating a visual dialogue amid the lush garden of Madame X. 

“Les oies sauvage” represent the essence of Lalanne’s vision. In Ancient Egypt, one of the artist’s favorite sources of inspiration, the goose was considered sacred and was a common artistic image. However, it is the great French Art Deco sculptors such as Francois Pompon, Eduard-Marcel Sandoz and most of all Constantin Brancusi whose aesthetic Francois-Xavier Lalanne admired the most. The artist’s signature sense of humor comes through in a curious way the geese are positioned within the gaggle, each bird having a specific place and character, playfully interacting with the others.