Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid (ES) 21 November 2018 - 22 April 2019
París pese a todo. Artistas extranjeros 1944 - 1968
This exhibition explores the contribution made by foreign artists to the dynamism of the École de Paris after the Second World War. Still considered as a point of reference and stimulation for modern art, the French capital retains intact its aura as a "City of Light" inherited from the 19th century and still exerts a magnetic attraction on artists from all over the world. This ambitious collective exhibition reflects the vitality of this complex artistic scene, showing the different creative trends that are taking hold of the city, in and around the École de Paris, in the global political context of the Cold War.
Curator : Serge Guilbaut
After the Liberation, Paris is rebuilding itself politically, socially and economically. At the same time, the École de Paris begins to change. To do so, it can count on the foreign artists who continue to flock to the capital and whose singular approaches, as diverse as their geographical and cultural origins, help to redirect the trajectory of modern art. This mutation contaminates all artistic practices, from painting to literature, sculpture and jazz. At the heart of this stimulating and fertile emulation, each artist, both actor and receiver, manages to preserve his own identity.
The exhibition shows the plural nature of these approaches. It offers the opportunity to rediscover and dialogue with many works that have long been forgotten in the history of art. The chronological path makes it possible to discern the evolution of discourse over the years and the artists' responses to Parisian trends or political pressures. It also reflects the changing composition of the cultural environment in response to historical events.
Works on loan
