From February 14 to May 27, 2024, the Matisse Museum showcased its exhibition “Henri Matisse. Free Forms” at the prestigious National Art Center in Tokyo.
This cultural event attracted numerous visitors. Indeed, 266,636 visitors came to admire the 146 emblematic works and objects from the museum’s collections, including major pieces such as “Flowers and Fruits,” “Creole Dancer,” and “Blue Nude IV.”
Christian Estrosi, Mayor of Nice, President of the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis, and Deputy President of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region, expressed his satisfaction: “The exhibition ‘Henri Matisse. Free Forms’ has allowed the artist’s entire body of work to shine internationally. This partnership enabled the restoration of ‘Flowers and Fruits,’ a key piece of our collections. The success of this exhibition, which brought together over 266,000 visitors, is proof of Nice’s international influence and our ability to export our cultural engineering expertise”
The enthusiastic reception from Japanese visitors reflects the enduring admiration for Henri Matisse’s work in this country. This exhibition offered a new generation the opportunity to discover and appreciate the artist’s creations. The resounding success of “Henri Matisse. Free Forms” confirms not only the universal appeal of Matisse’s art but also Nice’s ability to organize major cultural events on the international scene.
