Europunk Exhibition at Musée de la Musique Charts Punk as Final 20th-Century Art Revolution

The 'Europunk' exhibition at the Musée de la Musique, Cité de la Musique in Paris (October 15, 2013 – January 19, 2014) showcases punk as a pivotal artistic upheaval of the 20th century. Curated by Éric de Chassey, who leads the Villa Médicis, this exhibition first debuted in 2011. Initially viewing his fascination with punk and abstract art as conflicting, de Chassey eventually found a way to merge these interests. Rather than attempting to align Barnett Newman with The Clash, the display captures the unrefined creative spirit of punk through a variety of DIY artifacts, including flyers, posters, and record sleeves, contributed by both renowned and lesser-known artists such as Martin Kippenberger and the Bazooka collective. The Paris exhibition introduces a musical aspect, featuring the Sex Pistols' first TV performance in 1976 and Joy Division's BBC session from 1979, emphasizing punk's musical roots. The exhibition is critiqued by Stéphane Malfettes.