Info:
- Dates: 27.03.24 – 01.07.24
- Curator: Ariane Coulondre
- Where: Centre Pompidou
- Price: 17 euros/ 14 euros reduced
Centre Pompidou celebrates Constantin Brancusi with one of the largest exhibitions ever dedicated to the Romanian artist. Nearly two hundred pieces fill the spaces of the museum’s 6th floor, giving the sculptures ample room to breathe and stand out. The exhibition spans the entire period of Brancusi’s career, showcasing his extraordinarily rich body of work and the evolution within his oeuvre. With the relocation of Atelier Brancusi (following the donation of all his works to the French state in 1957) due to upcoming renovations of the museum starting in 2025, this retrospective serves as a clever solution to highlight Brancusi’s work before the museum’s temporary closure.
The exhibition’s strength lies in its variety. Alongside the incredible number of sculptures, drawn from both the museum’s collection and internationally renowned institutions, a curious assortment of different items surrounds the works. Vinyl records, letters, photographs, souvenirs, and work tools, all of which help recreate the atmosphere of Brancusi’s time and allow visitors to connect with the artist on a deeper level.
Brancusi’s iconic series are present with an arrangement that highlights the artist’s research and evolution within the same subject. For example, in the first room, we find the initial conception of “Le Baiser,” a motif that recurs throughout the exhibition, culminating in its transformation into a frieze in later versions. Another emblematic series is that of the child’s head, showcasing Brancusi’s early achievement in reducing forms to their essence. This series served as an inspiration for the famous “Muse,” another recurring subject in his work.
The museum’s spaces are well-exploited, with alcoves dedicated to certain series and large open areas where the rhythm of the sculptures can shine. The use of archival photos is particularly effective, often serving almost didactically to explain the relationship between the final piece and the research behind it. One of the most captivating rooms is dedicated to the “Oiseaux dans l’espace” series, the famous sculptures that sparked the Brancusi case in New York in the 1920s. The placement of these bird-like sculptures in front of the stunning Parisian view is an enchanting choice, almost as if the sculptures are poised to take flight.
Overall, this retrospective does justice to such a prolific artist who dedicated his career to finding the soul within the substance. Brancusi’s sculptures, purified in their lines, laid the groundwork for contemporary sculptures and established him as one of the most emblematic figures in the history of modern art.
C’est en taillant la pierre que l’on découvre l’esprit de la matière, sa propre mesure. La main pense et suit la pensée de la matière
– Costantin Brancusi *
My personal highlights:
- Le Baisier, 1907
- Tête d’enfant endormi, 1908
- Le commencemment du monde, 1924
* (EN) “It is while carving stone that you discover the spirit of your material and the properties peculiar to it. Your hand thinks and follows the thoughts of the material”
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