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26/6/2009

Miro' en son jardin

Fondation Maeght, Saint-Paul de Vence

250 works by Joan Miró illustrate the profound relationship between the Maeght family and this artist. On display are major paintings and sculptures some of which have never yet been seen by the general public. The revered giant of XXth century art was closely involved in the creation of the Maeght Foundation. This display which takes up the entire space of the Foundation, including the gardens, conveys the strength of the link between the artist’s work and this haven which was so special to him. For Miró, it was a holiday home, a place to meet people and to think – above all, the Foundation was his open air studio. This is a unique opportunity to meet “Miró in his garden” and to discover the secrets behind his creations. Joan Miró and the Marguerite and Aimé Maeght Foundation: a unique relationship... Joan Miró and Aimé Maeght met when Miró joined Braque in Varengeville.

« In 1948, after the war, I went back to Paris where Maeght looked after me. Tzara suggested bringing out a book “Parler Seul” I made 70 or maybe 72 lithographs for this book. From then on, I took lithography very seriously. Then I started working for “Derrière Le Miroir”. Now I spend all my time doing lithography and eau-forte. It has become very important to me, contributing a lot to my painting, giving me new ideas; it allows me to start out from a different beginning, and everything leads from that.” As a token of his esteem, affection and gratitude to the Maeght family and the Foundation at St Paul, Miró made an exceptional donation of his works, including sculptures, maquettes, ceramics and paintings both on canvas and paper. In 1979, an exhibition directed by Miró enabled him at last to present his works and research in the way he wished.

... which resulted in Miró’s Labyrinth

In the 1960’s, Joan Miró was given the opportunity to create a gigantic sculpture in the gardens of the Marguerite and Aimé Maeght Foundation. This was the Labyrinth. For the first time, Miró’s sculpture was deliberately put together with architecture and nature, ever his source of inspiration. The artist thus created a sculpture garden especially for the Maeght Foundation. This consisted of enormous sculptures and ceramic works, a labyrinth inhabited by creations of the artist’s dream world, reminding us that he was far more than a painter.

In 1964, at the opening of the Maeght Foundation, the public discovered stone walls weaving amongst the ceramics and sculptures. These are the support for a white line painted by the aritst to guide the visitor through the sculpture garden. Here, the genius from Catalonia explored various materials. The Grand Arche is made of concrete; Miró carved his characteristic signs using a pneumatic drill. L’Oiseau lunaire and l’Oiseau solaire are made of Carrara marble. La Fourche is in iron and bronze and takes up the symbol of the raised fist of peasant revolt during the Spanish Civil War. The ceramic Lézard climbs up the patio walls while gargoyles above the ponds spew water into the depths Miró decorated. A hommage to Miró’s creative genius.

In May 1974, ten years after the inauguration of the Marguerite and Aimé Maeght Foundation, France paid homage to Miró’s creative genius with three simultaneous exhibitions in Paris. The Grand Palais exhibited his recent paintings and all his engravings, while the Paris Museum of Modern Art displayed a collection of 100 of his sculptures. Joan Miró and Aimé Maeght collaborated closely in the organisation of these exhibitions. In June 1975, the Miró Foundation was inaugurated in Barcelona. Joan Miró chose Josep Lluis Sert, the architect of the Maeght Foundation, to design his musem. In 1977, Aimé and Marguerite Maeght donated an emblematic ensemble of Miró’s sculptures to the French national collections so that Miró’s works could be fully represented in the newly opened Pompidou Centre. These works have rarely been on show since that time. They illustrate the creative process of the great Catalan artist. This is a unique opportunity to discover the universe of Joan Miró.

Fondation Maeght
06570 Saint-Paul
The Maeght Foundation is open everyday without exception:
October 1st – June 30th : 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
July 1st – September 30th: 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. Admission: 11 euros

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