Photo : Geoffroy Delorme
Our forests, our lives
Imagine shedding every social layer to live in total harmony with nature for seven years, guided only by the rhythm of the forest. This deeply moving storytelling session, brought to life with live music and sketches, invites you to reconsider your connection to the living world.
Théâtre de la Concorde (Paris 8th)
About
On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, the Théâtre de la Concorde hosts an evening dedicated to forest preservation and the human connection to nature. This free event brings together artists and thinkers to explore our collective responsibility toward the environment, inspired by the 1872 insights of George Sand. Through a blend of personal storytelling, live sketching, and musical performances, the session offers a unique perspective on the beauty of our ecosystems. Located in the 8th arrondissement, this gathering provides an accessible space for all who are interested in ecological awareness and the living world.
"If we are not careful, the tree will disappear and the end of the planet will come through desiccation without any necessary cataclysm, due to man's fault. Do not laugh at this, those who have studied the question do not think of it without terror."
These words do not date from the summer of 2026 but go back to 1872, from the pen of George Sand who, alongside other artists, was one of the first to seek to raise our awareness of the links that unite us to forests and their necessary preservation.
In this autumn of 2026, after a summer marked by forests burned in every corner of the country, new artists are uniting to speak of the feeling of wonder that only the forest provides and of our collective responsibility to protect it from our excesses and our follies.
Catherine Meurisse, the first comic book author to become a member of the Institut de France, will come to present her latest comic book, Le Clan Walden, in which she revisits, with humor and gentleness, the life of Henry David Thoreau, a nature lover and budding philosopher who, by building a cabin on the edge of the peaceful Walden Pond, will attempt the experiment of self-sufficiency, write a journal, and observe the living world.
She will converse with Geoffroy Delorme, whose now well-known story, L'Homme-chevreuil (The Deer Man), has been adapted into a comic book to tell of his experience of seven years lived in the Norman forest, within which he gradually gained the trust of the deer and thought out a daily life by their side.
Jean-Denis Pendanx will accompany the meeting with live drawings while cellist Olivia Gay, accompanied by her pianist and accustomed to playing in forests, will transport us through music.
This meeting will thus combine narrative, observation of the living world, drawing, and music to sound the alarm on the fate of forests and mobilize us to preserve what surrounds us: trees, animals, winds, the beauty of the living world.
With
- Catherine Meurisse, illustrator and press cartoonist
- Geoffroy Delorme
- Jean-Denis Pendanx, illustrator
- Olivia Gay, cellist, and her pianist
The meeting will be moderated by Camille Lafrance, director of the association Fake Off.
Our take on this event
The event Nos forêts, nos vies takes place on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, from 19:00 to 20:30 at the Théâtre de la Concorde. This evening aims to foster a deeper understanding of forest ecosystems through a multi-disciplinary approach. Graphic novelist Catherine Meurisse will discuss her work Le Clan Walden, which explores Henry David Thoreau’s life and philosophy. She will be joined by Geoffroy Delorme, author of L’Homme-chevreuil, who will share his experiences of living among deer in the Normandy forests. The discussion will be moderated by Camille Lafrance, director of the association Fake Off.
The session integrates various artistic forms to emphasize the urgency of protecting our natural surroundings. Artist Jean-Denis Pendanx will create live drawings during the conversation, and cellist Olivia Gay, accompanied by her pianist, will perform musical pieces throughout the evening. By combining narratives, visual art, and music, the organizers invite the public to reflect on the importance of trees, wildlife, and the preservation of living beauty. Attendance is free.
