Art curator Jeanne-Bathilde Lacourt expressed her eagerness to bring Europe's 20th-century modern art alive for the Chinese public as her museum presents the largest collection of Amedeo Modigliani's works ever shown in China.
The exhibition, Picasso, Modigliani and Modern Art, opened in Shanghai at the Bund One Art Museum on Friday, presented by the Lille Métropole Museum of Modern, Contemporary and Outsider Art (LaM) of northern France.
In total, it showcases 61 masterpieces, including six works by Pablo Picasso and nine by the renowned Italian painter and sculptor Amedeo Modigliani.
As curator of the LaM and author of a book on Modigliani's art, Lacourt emphasized that the exhibition hopes to depict him as well-rounded artist who mastered many mediums.
"We are more focused on his work because we think it's worth talking about, and not talking only about Modigliani's life. So that's why we wanted to show all the paintings we have on Modigliani and also several drawings," she said.
"Drawings are very, very important in his work to try to find the better line, the better composition. We are lucky to have some of these drawings, this way you can see the process of his work," Lacourt added.
The exhibition's approach, she said, reflects the broader philosophy of the LaM, which works diligently to offer opportunities for visitors to engage with cultural legacies.
"We try to address everyone, including people who are not familiar with museums, people who are not even able to go to the museum. So we have plenty of activities. We have big events like the national heritage day. It's everywhere in France. We really want the museum to be alive," she said.
In discussing the collaboration with the Chinese museum, she highlighted the inspiration drawn from Modigliani's works, which illustrate the transformative power of cultural exchange, interaction, and adaptation in becoming a better version of oneself.
"I would like to quote from Modigliani’s work because Modigliani was very fond of alchemy, and alchemy is mainly about mixing the opposites, the sky and the earth, the female and the male. And we can say, also the Western and the Eastern. The aim of alchemy is to make just a better person, because after all, it's like taking a personal journey to become better. And I think this is the case when we work on such a kind of project," said Lacourt.
French curator delighted to bring 'alchemy' of Modigliani masterpieces to Shanghai
