Fondation Marguerite et Aimé Maeght

Partner Museum of the "Blickachsen 9" exhibition

 

The Fondation Marguerite et Aimé Maeght is very pleased to accept Christian Scheffel’s invitation to help create the selection for the ninth “Blickachsen” exhibition in 2013. Both the Fondation Maeght and the “Blickachsen” project have sought from their beginnings to make modern and contemporary art available to the widest possible public.

Opened in 1964 by the writer André Malraux, then Minister of Cultural Affairs, the Fondation Maeght is unique as a private foundation in Europe. This architectural ensemble was entirely conceived and financed by Aimé and Marguerite Maeght before becoming a public foundation having as its mission the presentation of 20th and 21st century art in all its forms. In collaboration with the Catalan architect Josep Lluís Sert, a number of painters and sculptors created location-specific, often monumental, works for the buildings and gardens, such as Miró’s Labyrinth – certainly one of the world’s best-known in situ works – the wall mosaics by Chagall and Tal-Coat, the Giacometti courtyard or the water basin and stainedglass window by Braque.

Situated on the Côte d’Azur, the Fondation Maeght possesses one of the most important art collections in Europe, with works by artists ranging from Bonnard and Calder through to Léger, Braque, Chillida, Miró, Giacometti, Ubac and Arp as well as, from our time, Anthony Caro, Bram van Velde, E. Dietman, Tàpies, E. Kelly, J. Mitchell, Takis, Adami, Arroyo, Del Re, Monory, Balthus, Brice Marden, Soto, Calzolari and others. There is a permanent collection, but the Fondation Maeght – true to its founders’ remit of promoting contemporary art – also organises temporary exhibitions. More than a hundred monographic and thematic exhibitions have thus far been held by the foundation, which each year attracts more than 200,000 visitors, and will celebrate its fiftieth anniversary in 2014.

Presenting sculpture in the open spaces of its courtyards and forested park grounds, the Fondation Maeght is a natural partner for “Blickachsen’s” Christian Scheffel in the joint creation of “Blickachsen 9”. From its own collection, the Fondation is contributing to “Blickachsen 9” works by Arp, G. Richier, F. Hyber and L. Mainolfi as well as a work by Riopelle from the private collection of the foundation’s president, Adrien Maeght.

Seeking to give us all the chance to experience works of art, and engage with the thoughts of their artists, “Blickachsen” is a truly beautiful and exciting project. Art is the experience of the diversity of reality, the joy of entering different worlds, and an extraordinary means of understanding our destiny, or more simply, our story, today.
It is an experience made possible with each sculpture chosen for “Blickachsen 9”.
It was a pleasure working with the artists, and with Christian Scheffel, in our joint enterprise of understanding society, the landscape, the world, and our very old cosmos over our heads.

Olivier Kaeppelin
Direktor Fondation Marguerite et Aimé Maeght

Fondation Maeght
623, chemin des Gardettes
06570 Saint-Paul-de-Vence
France
www.fondation-maeght.com