Unpublished works by Jean-Paul Riopelle were exhibited in Saint-Paul-de-Vence

This text is part of Plaisirs’ own book

1^any In July, the renowned Maeght Foundation will reopen its impressive museum space to the public and present unpublished works by Jean-Paul Riopelle, as well as choreography inspired by the artist’s decorator projects, hitherto unknown to the public.

Perched atop a hill in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, a picturesque village in the south of France, the Maeght Foundation owns and exhibits one of the largest collections of modern and contemporary art in Europe. Created in 1964 by Marguerite and Aimé Maeght, then famous publishers and art dealers, it was born out of the pair’s close friendships with many of the major artists of the 20th century.^H century, including Miró, Chagall, Braque, and Fernand Léger.

More than just a museum or exhibition centre, the place soon becomes a very unique place of experimentation and exchange, conceived in collaboration with artists who are drawn there and express themselves there by sometimes merging their work with nature and the building, created for these purposes by Josep Lluís Sert. , a Catalan architect influenced by Le Corbusier.

In addition to the rooms in which there are paintings of the great masters of the XX^H From the last century, many outdoor spaces have been born over the years and through experiments: Giacometti square, Miro’s labyrinth, Chagall’s fresco mosaics …

Today, the Maeght Foundation houses a wonderful garden of monumental outdoor sculptures and displays many items from its rich collection of 13,000 works, including paintings, lithographs, and etchings by Jean-Paul Riopelle, another friend of the family.

From “La Jute” to “Perfume Workshops”

“Between Abe and Riopelle, it was a real friendship, a real bond: the moment they met, they got along,” recalls Isabelle Maecht, daughter of Adrien Maecht and granddaughter of the founders of the foundation that bears his name. She also remembers a man with a charming smile who loved to let his lush creativity shine in Saint-Paul-de-Vence.

“The only porcelain Riopelle created was made here, and for the first time jousting It is shown here too, in its plaster version, as you say. With her vision decided on the city of Montreal, which had not originally wanted it. »

Very young Isabelle Maecht grew up shoulder to shoulder with Yseult, one of the two daughters of a Quebec artist. Thanks to this privileged link and after two exhibitions on Riopelle at the Maeght Foundation, in 1970 and in 1990, it was easy for him to contact the head of the Jean-Paul Riopelle Foundation to organize a new exhibition, Workshop perfumeswhich will be submitted to the Maeght Foundation starting on 1^any July. “We will try to show Riopelle that people don’t know, a man with all his research, not just an artist,” says Isabelle Maecht.

Riopelle is unique

Workshop perfumes It will unveil works from the collection of the Maeght Foundation, but also from the Center Pompidou (incl chevreuse, the largest painting by the artist), the Canadian Embassy in Paris, private collectors, etc. In addition to paintings and engravings, it will include large enamelled lavas to be exhibited for the first time, bronzes unknown to the public, collages and … surprising decorations created from unpublished sketchbooks by Riopelle.

“Originally, these were made in 1967 for a dance by Merce Cunningham,” says Isabelle Maecht. When we told Yseult of their existence, we told ourselves we were going to bring them to life, because we were already thinking of creating a show about Riopelle for the show. »

“It’s absolutely crazy, because no one, not even the Riopelle professionals, knows these decor projects exist! Says Frédéric Huben, Director of Care, Communication and Development at the Foundation. Recently produced for the exhibition from original sketchbooks, they form large six-by-four painted canvases meters A troupe of dancers led by choreographer Noé Soulier will cross the cutouts planned by Riopelle in these paintings during the performance of the piece. Crossingswhich was created for the exhibition.

The event will also mark the return of dance to the Maeght Foundation, but also a way to reconnect with the multiple disciplines that made it known from its very beginnings – back when he was Duke Ellington. It was produced through improvisation Miro Blues. You should know that Aimé Maecht did not establish any hierarchy between painting, sculpture, dance and music: all were, in his view, “living arts”.

Closed for eight months for renovation and extension work, the Maeght Foundation will reopen on 1^any July, while the new rooms and infrastructures will be completed, which will open in 2024. This will provide the opportunity to view the magnificent collections of this unique place, “where art, architecture and nature interact in perfect harmony.”

Our collaborator was a guest on eviivo and the Côte d’Azur Regional Tourism Committee.

This content was produced by the Special Publications team of dutyrelated to marketing. editing duty did not participate.

Let’s see in the video