At the National Art Center in Tokyo, the exhibition “Henri Matisse – Free Forms” opened its doors on February 14th. On this occasion, the Japanese public can now discover the 146 works loaned by the Musée Matisse until next May 27th.
It’s the big day. This February 14th marks the opening of the “Henri Matisse – Free Forms” exhibition at the National Art Center in Tokyo. Spread over a space of 3,000 m2 and divided into five stages, the exhibition presents a variety of works covering all the artist’s creative periods. Paintings, sculptures, engravings, drawings, and gouaches are featured. After admiring the famous gouache Flowers and Fruits, the public finds themselves in rooms dedicated to the chapel of Vence. A reconstruction of the stained glass windows in images will continue to dazzle the Japanese visitors.
This exhibition is the result of an exceptional collaboration. Yomiuri Shimbun, the main Japanese press organization, sponsors the project. For over 70 years, it has been organizing exhibitions. It is also the most widely read daily newspaper in the world with nearly ten million readers per day. To attract the Japanese public, a large-scale communication campaign around the event was launched: posters in the subway and streets, commercials in the media and on social networks. Aymeric Jeudy, director of the Musée Matisse, emphasizes that this first day has “captivated several thousand visitors.”
A Journey of 10,000 Kilometers
10,000 kilometers separate Nice from Japan. Three cargo planes transported the works to Tokyo. Extremely fragile, the pieces react to the slightest climatic variation. Therefore, they are carefully packed and placed in crates. A team of transport professionals supervised the transfer. The journey went very well. To date, it is the largest logistical operation carried out by the museum in 60 years.
The exhibition allows the city of Nice to shine internationally. It also opens the Musée Matisse to new perspectives. The works are usually displayed in very small rooms in Nice. In Tokyo, the eight-meter-high ceiling gives a particular grandeur. The museum director states: “This exhibition helps us to think about possible future displays.” For example, he mentions the possibility of dedicating a thematic exhibition on the chapel of Vence or “showing the works in a different way.” Accompanied by a delegation from Nice, the mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, will travel to Japan from May 18th to 25th. The treasures of the Matisse collection will be exhibited until next May 27th.
