Nice had to, on the fiftieth anniversary of Yves Klein’s passing, re-examine this tutelary figure of contemporary art, emblematic of the Côte d’Azur and the museum, by associating him with two other equally charismatic artists.
The whole of Nice wanted to be present and, in recent memory, there is no recollection of a more sought-after opening.
It’s a pity that the show-off approach and other such ‘delights’ inspired the exuberant behavior of the person who actually stepped into the floor artwork by Klein, likely confusing it with a large carpet.
Culture, socializing, and good manners do not always mix well!
From June 30 to December 16, 2012, MAMAC is organizing an exhibition bringing together Yves Klein (Nice, 1928 – Paris, 1962), an extraordinary personality who revolutionized the art world, James Lee Byars (Detroit, 1932 – Cairo, 1997), a crucial American artist, and Anish Kapoor (Bombay, 1954), who, having settled in London since 1972, breathes new life into contemporary sculpture with his monumental installations such as Leviathan, created for Monumenta 2011 at the Grand Palais in Paris, or the giant structure he is currently designing for the London Olympic Games.
With a desire for total art, they offer, through installations or performances, sensitive and poetic experiences of the world where monochromy plays a crucial role. MAMAC will attempt to highlight the connections that intimately link these three giants of art through specific installations that immerse the viewer in a chromatic field: IKB for Yves Klein, white for James Lee Byars, and red for Anish Kapoor.
To colors, materials, and sensations respond: the volatility and elusiveness of pure pigment, the hardness and finesse of marble, the viscosity, smell, and softness of wax. To the gathering of these three mythical personalities is added a unique artistic and sensory proposition that will make this international event an essential exhibition.
This project will also travel to the magnificent ARoS Kunstmuseum in Aarhus, Denmark, in 2013. We therefore wish a beautiful journey for this remarkable initiative based on the permeability of experiences, skills, and knowledge.
