Crying Animals: Art and Commitment for Endangered Species

Crying Animalsis an artistic project byFrench digital artist Julien Nonnonwho useslight art and video mappingto draw attention to the gradual disappearance of certain iconic animal species.

Rather than exhibiting his works in a gallery, Nonnon chosethe rock faces of the French Alpsas a natural canvas. Using a powerful projector, he projectsgiant portraits of endangered animals— such as the wolf, lynx, ibex, or falcon — directly onto cliffs hundreds of meters high.

Theseephemeral light imagesare not only aesthetic: they constitute avisual cry in favor of biodiversity, highlighting the fragility of natural environments and the need to act to protect endangered species.

A unique artistic approach

Julien Nonnon is recognized for his work invideo mapping, a technique that involves projecting visuals onto extraordinary surfaces. InCrying Animals, he transposes this discipline from the urban landscape to the wilderness.

The name“Crying Animals”refers to the vivid expression of what these animals experience: through the projected light, the artist transforms the cliffs into a living and emotional space, inviting the public to reflect on thethreat facing alpine wildlife.

By making these portraits visible in a grand natural setting, Nonnon seeks to bring viewers closer to the reality of animal extinction and to create astrong emotional connectionwith these living beings.

Beyond the Alps: a global awareness

Always driven by his desire to raise awareness on a global scale, Julien Nonnon plans to expandCrying Animalsto other regions of the world. He has mentioned the idea of projecting, for example, lions in the Moroccan Atlas, pumas in California, or gorillas in the African Great Lakes region — all territories where these species are currently endangered or already extinct.

This international dimension highlights the importance of raising awareness and protecting biodiversity across different cultures and natural environments.

Photographs: capturing the ephemeral

The works ofCrying Animalsare captured in photography, as the light projections themselves areephemeral and elusive. Each image thus becomes apowerful visual testimonythat can be shared on social media, thereby amplifying the reach of the message and raising awareness among an even wider audience.

A work that provokes thought

• Crying Animals* is not just beautiful: it invites you tobecoming aware of the ecological urgencyand supporting actions for species conservation.

• It is part of a committed artistic approach, wherelight serves as a metaphor for the fragile life of wild animals.

• It transforms a natural landscape into a space of expression,awakening the public's attention to the silent disappearance of biodiversity.

La presse en parle : 

Le Journal du Design - Design Boom - CrePills