Paul Cezanne and Jeff Wall / Claude Monet and Francois Morellet
Paul Cezanne and Jeff Wall / Claude Monet and Francois Morellet
curated by Serge Lemoine, President of the Muse'e d'Orsay, in conjunction with Olivier Gabet, curator, Muse'e d'Orsay
The concept involves inviting a contemporary artist to choose an artwork from the Museum collections and present one of his or her own pieces alongside. The resulting dialogue enables works in the collections to be perceived in a new light, and brings a fresh resonance to their lasting modernity.
The Canadian artist Jeff Wall has played a key role in establishing photography as a contemporary art form, with his work in the series Transparencies, colour photographs mounted in light boxes. They defy appearances, sitting between candid shots capturing the moment, and subtle and meticulous reconstruction. This is what his work is all about: the skilful and thoughtful use of all the methods photography offers, focusing on a close dialogue with pictorial composition. Wall often evokes the popular nineteenth century expression "a painter of modern life", and he admits a real affinity with Manet, Degas and Ce'zanne. Their pictorial language provides a system of references, a context for his own photographic work. So his choice is Ce'zanne's Bridge at Maincy.
Claude Monet, Les Cathe'drales de Rouen (The Rouen Cathedrals), 1893
Francois Morellet, Trois De'mone'tisations (Three demonetisations)
For Francois Morellet, the work of art refers only to itself - the title is a guide to its creation, often drawing on the artist's sharp wit and word play. In the sixties, Morellet began to work with neon tubes. His rigorous approach tended to create emotionally neutral works and has placed him close to Minimal Art and Conceptual Art: the relationship between the work and its environment makes its infinite extension possible. So Francois Morellet turned to Claude Monet and his Rouen Cathedral series (1892-1893) "My choice is clear: it is the series of Monet's cathedrals: magnificent, systematic, obstinate and provocative."
Publications:
Cezanne/Jeff Wall
Joint publication Editions Argol/Muse'e d'Orsay
paperback, 64 pages
bilingual French and English edition
13 euros
Monet/Francois Morellet
Joint publication Editions Argol/Muse'e d'Orsay
paperback, 64 pages
bilingual French and English edition
13 euros
Forthcoming artists:
Vincent van Gogh, La chambre de l'artiste (Artist's room) / Charles Sandison
Vincent Feuge're des Forts, La mort d'Abel (The death of Abel) / Pierre and Gilles
20 February to 20 May 2007
Image: Paul Cezanne, 1839-1906, Pommes et oranges vers 1899
Musee d'Orsay / Contemporary Art
1, rue de la Legion d'Honneur - Paris
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