Decorum Exhibition Weaves Tapestry History at Musée d'Art Moderne

The Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris presents 'Decorum,' an exhibition exploring the history of carpets and tapestries from the early 20th century to the contemporary 'neo-craft' movement, curated by Anne Dressen with scenography by artist Marc-Camille Chaimowicz. Running from October 11, 2013, to February 9, 2014, the show features a soundscape by Jean-Philippe Antoine and is organized into five sections: 'le pictural,' 'le décoratif,' 'orientalismes,' 'primitivismes,' and 'le sculptural.' Works range from multiples to unique pieces, made by professional weavers or artists themselves, anonymous or signed, mechanical or handmade. Notable artists include Anni Albers, Gunta Stölzl, Michel Aubry, Märta Maas-Fjetterström, Noa Eshkol, Sheila Hicks, Akiko Sato, Pierrette Bloch, and Elsi Giauque. The exhibition also highlights the museum's history, particularly its Art Textile Création department, which showcased New Tapestry in the 1980s. Dressen emphasizes that for many artists, the making is less important than the conception, and tapestry is seen as a proto-conceptual art form whose structure resembles internet networks.