"It's a disaster waiting to happen": Jean Linard's cathedral, a monument of outsider art, in danger in Aisne

Is the "shell house" in Viry-Noureuil ( Aisne ) under threat? This is the fear of many heritage enthusiasts who are mobilizing, particularly on social media. They accuse the municipality and the regional directorate of cultural affairs of doing nothing. "It's going to disappear. It's a shame. My followers are very sensitive to this," exclaims Lyon blogger and art whistleblower Nicole Esterolle on Facebook.

From his retirement in 1975 until his death twenty years ago at the age of 91, Bohdan Litnianski, a Ukrainian mason, never stopped bringing his "ideal garden" to life at 15, rue Jean-Jaurès, notably by erecting around fifty columns combining shells, earthenware, stones, glass bottles, dolls, etc. All sealed with cement: "From the old, we make the new," he said.

After his death, the house remained closed for a long time. His heirs then put it up for sale. It was purchased four years ago by a private individual who was passionate about Bohdan Litnianski's work and patience and who lives in a neighboring town: "He doesn't want to touch anything," we were told at the town hall. "Small objects were falling onto the sidewalk a few months ago. We asked him to secure it."

Voices are therefore being raised to protect or classify this extraordinary work, while the town hall responds: "It's private property." Pierre Gentès, a gallery owner in Rouen ( Seine-Maritime ), does not understand such a reaction: "Many towns and villages, faced with the same problem of emblematic private property, have found solutions. It's a disaster waiting to happen." When contacted, the current owner of the "shell house" did not wish to answer our questions.