LONDON CALLING
WANDER INTO THE WORLD OF MATISSE. An epic exhibition of Henri Matisse’s final chapter has unmasked itself at the Tate Modern in London. Aptly titled ‘Henri Matisse: The Cut-Outs’, this thrilling exhibition is brimming with brilliant colour and lines with cutouts of coloured paper ranging from small maquette designs to 3.5-metre compositions.
When illness prevented him from painting, Matisse took what was then considered a daring step in the world of art; he began cutting coloured paper to make drafts but then realised that the cutouts were, and still are, much more fascinating then paintings.
A leader in the modern arts movement, Matisse is one of the most important colourists of all time – a fact evident in this monumental exhibition of his work during his final years. A dazzling array of 120 works created between 1936 and 1954, from snowflowers to dancers, circus scenes to a famous snail, this exhibition marks a historic moment wherein Matisse’s work from all around the globe will come together under one roof. Also among this effervescent collection are the famous Matisse Blue Nudes. Towards the end of the legendary artist’s life, he created the Blue Nudes to demonstrate his renewed interest in the human form echoing his sculpture, the subject of the last major solo exhibition in London 60 years ago. Until September 7 at Tate Modern, Bankside, London. Tel: +44 (0)20 7887 8888. www.tate.org.uk
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