Matisse Revisited

with Ellen Turner Hall

In the summer show at the Musée d’art moderne de Collioure Matisse’s words and works find new expression in a generation of contemporary artists. The poster for the exhibition by Benoit Bonnemaison-Fitte plays on the theme of “fauves”.“Beasts” emerge from an ecstatic soup of orange, blue and green on the artist’s large canvases.

Fauvism’s romance with colour is evoked on the museum’s walls repainted in Barbie pink, cool sea green and deep violet, creating a dramatic background for the art works such as Delphine Dénéréaz’s see-through wall hanging of lush vegetation. Matisse’s iconic windows seem to have inspired both the exuberant paintings of Barbara Nascimbeni and the sober collages of Muriel Valat-B. Suspended in the well of the staircase Adrien Vescovi’s curtain material pays tribute to Matisse’s love of textiles.

The cut-out amorphous puzzle pieces of Didier Béquellard are reminiscent of Matisse’s later work with collage, while the embroidered creations of Franck Gabarrou recall Matisse’s abundant bouquets of flowers. Finally Nicolas Cussac’s work is displayed in its own window, grouping together odd slips of paper recording a cactus leaf, an upturned surfboard, a delivery van, details overlooked by all but the attentive eye of the artist.

Like the master these young artists celebrate the world in all its startling singularity.

Back to Matisse runs from 7 June to 28 SeptemberMORE DETAILS

Friday 27th September 201