150 years of industrial and maritime history of La Seyne-sur-Mer
An entire part of the Var identity was honored on February 27, 28 and March 1.
The Rotary Club La Seyne-sur-Mer - Saint-Mandrier, chaired by Régine Scotto d’Aniélo, orchestrated a major event entitled "They made La Seyne-sur-Mer". The objective was to preserve the memory of a glorious industrial past and raise funds for the club's charities. The event took place in a symbolic venue: the Hôtel Mercure, located on quai du 10 mars 1962. This site was not chosen by chance, as it corresponds to the historic location of the shipyards, where everything began with the development of Philip Taylor's shipyard and the site of the "Rotonde".
DUTY OF REMEMBRANCE
For the organizers, it is crucial not to let the traces of this industrial epic fade away. "Our town experienced a tragedy with the disappearance of the shipyards. These places where generations of men and women, united like the crew of a ship, have over time produced extraordinary works," emphasize the leaders of the Rotary. They add: "It is inconceivable to erase their trace [...] On the contrary, we must preserve everything that can reveal the richness of this creative drive." This event was intended as an interrogation of the past to better understand the present, recalling that "having been is a condition for being." The exhibition centered around the works of Charles Chantemesse. This Toulon painter, trained at the Beaux-Arts in the 1950s, came out of artistic retirement in 1996 with an exhibition at the Fort Napoléon. While the artist is known for his representations of the female figure, blending beauty and sensuality, he dedicated the last part of his career to the dismantling of the shipyards. His canvases, which use mixed media (oil, acrylic, collage), offer a sensitive testimony to the end of this industrial heritage. A video interview of the artist, directed by Yorick Aniel, was broadcast to enlighten the public on his approach. "Let us not wipe the slate clean of the past," is the leitmotif of this cultural gathering.
COLLECTIVE MOBILIZATION
Beyond pictorial art, the event offered a historical plunge thanks to the contribution of many partners. Visitors discovered ship models, period films, and precious objects. This exceptional documentary collection was built thanks to the archives of the Marius Bar editions and the active participation of the "guardians of memory". Several local associations were also federated around the project: A.M.I.A.N.S., the Centre de Ressources sur la Construction Navale, the Bâtisseurs du Laborieux, the model artisans of the Argonautes, and the association Sillages. Serge Razzanti and Patrick Martinenq also opened their personal archives to enrich the exhibition.