'Group Hug' by Alex Chinneck, street art in Nancy
Along rue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, a metal sculpture seems to knot and stitch the surrounding architecture. Created by British artist Alex Chinneck, 'Group Hug' belongs to the ADN urban art trail (Art Dans Nancy), which gathers more than forty works across the city.
Architecture tied in knots
The idea behind 'Group Hug' rests on a striking image: rigid elements that look supple, tied like shoelaces and gathered into a single embrace. The metal appears to bend, coil and stitch itself back together, as if the city were mending itself. This play on illusion is Alex Chinneck's signature, and he enjoys catching the hurried passer-by off guard. In Nancy the sculpture slips quietly into public space: you spot it around a bend in the street, then realise the technical feat that lends such softness to a hard material.
Alex Chinneck, the illusionist of façades
Born in 1984, Alex Chinneck rose to fame with works that defy the logic of buildings: façades that seem to slide or melt, walls peeling open like a zip, old columns tied into a vast knot, embracing lamp posts. His aim is to bring surprise and humour into public space by lending fluidity to objects thought to be immovable. The 'Group Hug' series continues that pursuit: it turns rigidity into tenderness and engineering into poetry. In Nancy, his presence is a reminder that urban art is not only about spray cans and murals, but also about sculpture and optical illusion.
Lorraine craftsmanship
Behind the illusion lies genuine workshop craft. The sculpture, made of metal and standing about 2.5 metres tall, was produced by the Huguenin foundry in Vézelise, not far from Nancy. Turning to local expertise roots the work in its region: the idea comes from London, but the material takes shape in Lorraine. 'Group Hug' entered Nancy's public space as part of the city's urban art programme, which regularly invites international artists to engage with local heritage. The result combines technical precision with apparent lightness, two demands that are hard to reconcile in metal.
On the ADN trail
'Group Hug' is only one stop within a larger whole: the ADN trail, short for 'Art Dans Nancy' (Art in Nancy). This free route links more than forty works — murals, stencils, installations and sculptures — from the Porte de la Craffe to Place des Vosges. It brings together internationally renowned artists and regional talents alike. Following the trail means crossing the city differently, looking up and lingering over details you would otherwise miss. The city publishes a leaflet and a map that help you locate each work and plan your own walk.
Infos pratiques
Adresse : 51 rue du Maréchal Lattre de Tassigny, 54000 Nancy
Questions fréquentes
Where can you see 'Group Hug' in Nancy?
The work is on rue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny in Nancy. It can be seen freely from public space at any time.
Who is Alex Chinneck?
He is a British artist born in 1984, known for sculptures and installations that appear to defy the laws of architecture: melting buildings, knotted columns and rigid materials made supple.
Do you have to pay to see the work?
No. Like every work on the ADN trail, 'Group Hug' is installed outdoors and can be discovered free of charge.
What is the ADN trail?
ADN, 'Art Dans Nancy', is a free urban art trail that links more than forty works across the city, from the Porte de la Craffe to Place des Vosges.
Pexels — Alexis B · Pexels — Marc Schneid
