The Ducastel Prize, established in honour of sculptor Michel Ducastel, has been awarded annually since 2012 by the City of Annemasse to an artist participating in La Fantasia Park during the Musical’été festival, which opens on 4 July.

The Nomadic Fruits of Huang Zixuan

Inspired by small red berries found in La Fantasia Park — though originally from Asia — Huang Zixuan’s musical sculptures, winner of the 2025 Ducastel Prize, speak of movement and adaptation. The Cotoneaster dammeri, a flowering plant in the Rosaceae family, is native to central and southern China and was first named in 1907 by German botanist Camillo Karl Schneider. For Huang Zixuan, these fruits echo his own journey.

Modelled in clay, these larger-than-life fruits are also sound-producing. Their vibrant red colour is preserved with a red glaze. Positioned at various heights, Huang Zixuan invites both children and adults to place their hands around the mouthpieces of the sculptures and blow into them. These wind instruments can be played solo or in trios. Blending nature and culture, these nomadic fruits prompt reflection on migration and open a space for dialogue through the universal language of music.

Claude-Hubert Tatot