The Vence Museum, since January 1, 2017, has been a municipal cultural organization of the city of Vence. For the first exhibition of this new organization, the city of Vence wished to pay tribute to an artist from Vence who has been there for 58 years.
It is the first time that Franta is exhibiting in his city. This artist was born in Czechoslovakia in Tลebรญฤ in 1930. He studied in Brno and Prague between 1948 and 1958 at the schools of decorative arts and fine arts. At the end of his studies, he left his country and found himself in Vence in 1958, where he has lived and worked ever since.
This exhibition, in a way, is the memory album of this artist who is both expressionist and impressionist. Franta is a painter, draftsman, and sculptor. The visitor will appreciate the diversity and eclecticism of this artist. Franta always poses and places the same question to us: “Why so much hatred between men?” then proceeds to respond in a certain way to his question:
“Look at man as he is, even if he is not very beautiful. The brush and the pencil are my means of expression.” His paintings illustrate our recent history: revolt, migrants, always blaming the other, the scapegoat, too easy an excuse. The series on animals illustrates this violence between living species.
After Black Africa with paintings and statues, his memories, the Maasai, an album of this continent, Franta takes us to the United States with Harlem. The blacks uprooted from their country, slaves with no rights, and bending under the yoke.
Accident, always a constant with Franta: denouncing violence and always the same question: why so much violence? It is like a refrain. The visit ends with a moment of intimacy, humanity, and love. Jacqueline, his wife, and the woman and child. Is this his son Jacques taking his first steps here? Which gives us a beautiful conclusion to his father’s exhibition: “Man stands up, upright above all, and continues to hope.” Pierre Mertl.
This exhibition has been the subject of a magnificent work: Le temps d’une ลuvre, an illustrated book with reproductions of Franta. The artist’s universe presented to the public, a wonderful souvenir for the visitor. This book is available at the museum.
This exhibition is on view until May 21 at the Vence Museum.
by Thierry Jan
