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Paintings, works on paper, tapestries, lithographs 18 October to
25 November 2000 in Johannesburg In a joint initiative between the Standard Bank of South Africa, SANG, the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS), the Embassy of France and Air France, the exhibition, titled Marc Chagall, The Light of Origins, was specifically curated for a South African audience and will not tour. It was the first time that original works by a European artist of this stature were displayed in Africa. The exhibition revealed the diversity of Chagall's work and made it accessible to South Africans. The period represented by the South African exhibition encompassed the years between 1949 and 1977. The Standard Bank Gallery displayed 31 paintings, 21 works on paper and one tapestry of one of Chagall's lithographs, conceived by Yvette Cauquil-Prince. At SANG, 100 lithographs from 15 series and two tapestries, also conceived by Yvette Cauquil-Prince, were exhibited. The body of works was on loan from Musée national d'art moderne, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris; Bella and Meret Meyer, Indivision Ida Chagall; Galerie Maeght, Paris; the Fondation Maeght, Saint Paul de Vence; and the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart as well as some private collections. Some of the works displayed include Le cirque bleu, Dimanche, Le Clown, La fiancée au visage bleu as well as the renowned Charles Sorlier Collection of lithographs. Despite spending much of his life removed from Russia, Chagall's origins - deeply rooted in Hasidism - still determined the essence of his work. He constantly drew his themes from memories of his youth in Vitebsk, a Russian town rich in Jewish culture and traditions. "Were I not a Jew, I would not have become an artist," said Chagall. However, during this time, Chagall gave his origins new life and created works with a new passion and radiance. The Paris Series, the Mediterranean Period, Circus and Flowers, the cycle of the Biblical Message and his monumental compositions reveal brilliantly coloured metaphors for human providence. The lithographs were chosen for their representation of the illustrative quality of his themes in terms of specific technique and colour. The enormous tapestries have been transposed from lithographs by Yvette Cauquil-Prince. To Chagall love was a constant theme: "Despite all the troubles of our world, in my heart I have never given up on the love in which I was brought up or on man's hope in love. In life, just as on the artist's palette, there is but one single colour that gives meaning to life and art - the colour of love." The scientific curator of the exhibition was Sylvie Forestier, a highly regarded French art historian, honorary director of the Musée National Message Biblique Marc Chagall in Nice (1984-1996), author of many publications on Chagall and curator of several Chagall exhibitions. General curators - David Lévy, an art consultant from Paris, and Henri Vergon, deputy director at IFAS - initiated, developed and directed the project. Marilyn Martin was responsible for the exhibition at the South African National Gallery. Professor Alan Crump for the exhibition at the Standard Bank Gallery. An extensive catalogue with all the works in colour was produced. Helene Smuts researched and conceptualised an educational programme that was accompanied by a resource book. A series of lectures and workshops were developed to offer art students and members of the public the opportunity to be inspired by Chagall's diversity and the depth and scope of his creative talent and humanity. |