François Morellet's Self-Copies at Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris
The Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris is hosting François Morellet's exhibition titled 'Quand j'étais petit, je ne faisais pas grand,' which will be open until September 16, 2007. This display includes recent reinterpretations of his 1952 works, with sizes increased fourfold and oil paint substituted with acrylic. Created by his assistants, the collection highlights the contrast between the warmth of the originals and the coldness of acrylic, offering a retrospective examination of geometric precision. Morellet, inspired by Max Bill and the Alhambra, expressed his discomfort with the idea of duplication. His 1988 remarks indicate a shift in his perspective on seriousness. This new series reflects both rigor and detachment, reaffirming his dedication to mobility and the failures of systems. The exhibition is part of a 2007-2008 series showcased at locations such as S.M.A.K. Ghent and Musée d'art contemporain Lyon.
Key facts
- Exhibition at Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris until September 16, 2007.
- Series 'Quand j'étais petit, je ne faisais pas grand' copies 1952 paintings with quadrupled dimensions and acrylic instead of oil.
- Morellet felt embarrassment and perplexity about the copies, unlike Rauschenberg's confidence.
- 1952 paintings were inspired by Max Bill and the Alhambra, using modular patterns.
- Morellet was a member of G.R.A.V. and collaborated with François and Véra Molnar.
- He stated in 1988: 'I like the rigor of geometry, but I like even more to fuck it up.'
- The series was produced by assistants with industrial precision, contrasting with the originals' warmth.
- Morellet had multiple exhibitions in 2007-2008 across Europe.
Entities
Artists
- François Morellet
- Robert Rauschenberg
- Max Bill
- Frank Stella
- Donald Judd
- Bertrand Lavier
- François Molnar
- Véra Molnar
- Serge Lemoine
- Thomas McEvilley
- Lynn Zelevansky
- Rudi Fuchs
- Erik Verhagen
- Bruce Glaser
- Claude Gintz
- Stéphanie Jamet
Institutions
- Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris
- Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
- Galerie nationale du Jeu de Paume
- LACMA
- MIT Press
- S.M.A.K. Ghent
- Studio F. Wielandgalerie
- Hôtel de Région Nantes
- Studio Dabbeni Lugano
- Galerie Mark Müller Zurich
- Musée d'art contemporain Lyon
- Galerie Gisèle Linder Basel
- Galerie Aline Vidal Paris
- Baukunst Galerie Cologne
- Musée des beaux-arts Nantes
- Galerie von Bartha S-chanf
- Galerie Annely Juda London
- Galerie Martine et Thibault de la Châtre Paris
- G.R.A.V. (Groupe de recherche d'art visuel)
- Université de Valenciennes
- ENSB-A Paris
Locations
- Paris
- France
- Cholet
- Maine-et-Loire
- Amsterdam
- Netherlands
- South America
- Granada
- Spain
- Alhambra
- Gand
- Belgium
- Ulm
- Germany
- Nantes
- Lugano
- Switzerland
- Zurich
- Lyon
- Basel
- Cologne
- S-chanf
- London
- UK
- Angers
- Los Angeles
- USA
- Cambridge
Sources
- artpress —