Sculptures

Shangri-La Tulips

Shangri-La Tulips is a public sculpture by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama located on the esplanade François-Mitterrand in Lille, Nord, France. Installed as part of Lille 2004, the seven-meter-tall work is made of reinforced concrete and represents a bouquet of colorful flowers. The sculpture is regarded as a symbol of the city of Lille. Its public presence and large scale make it a notable element of the urban landscape. In 2019, Histoire reported that a child got a leg stuck in the tulip, and firefighters cut a piece of the installation.

Map showing the location of Shangri-La Tulips in Lille
Location of Shangri-La Tulips in Lille

Nearby Objects

Public Sculpture on the Esplanade

Shangri-La Tulips is a public sculpture by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. It is located on the esplanade Francois-Mitterrand in Lille, Nord, France. The work stands seven meters tall and is made of reinforced concrete. It represents a bouquet of colorful flowers. Installed as part of Lille 2004, it has become a symbol of the city of Lille.

2019 Incident and Firefighter Response

In 2019, Histoire reported an incident involving the Shangri-La Tulips when a child got a leg stuck in one of the tulip forms. According to the same report, firefighters responded by cutting a piece of the installation. These details place the work in the context of public interaction and the practical issues that can arise with accessible urban art installations.