Page 54 - Studio International - October 1965

Museums blossom in the emptiness

1 Paris Commentary by Alexander Watt 2
Never. during the thirty years and more that I have when canvases by some of the leading abstractionists
lived in France. have I seen Paris so empty as now. were surprisingly sold for next-to-nothing. As a result.
The French. still holding firm to their summer vacation the public awoke to the fact that. from a commercial­
(which must always be during August for the mass of investment point of view, they had been fooled. Hence
the population) make no attempt to 'stagger' their the reason why collectors switched to buying paintings
holidays for their own possible profit as well as for by the naif artists and. very noticeably, of revolutionary
foreigners visiting Paris and who are interested in sculpture in metal.
acquiring works of art but, to their disappointment, find Action Painting and Pop Art are no longer of any
that all the art galleries are closed. interest here in Paris. And the curators, and some of the
This explains why art collectors-especially the more honest and outspoken art dealers, concede that
Americans-now fully realise that only the Museums The School of Paris is fading out. During the past few
remain open during August and most of September. years, the Galerie Charpentier has regularly held a
Consequently, they stay only a day or two in Paris summer exhibition of The School of Paris. As this was
and then move on elsewhere for their holidays to some 'by invitation', many artists voiced protests at not being
1
Roel D'Haese country where they will be more welcomed by the art represented in the show. Last year, the Galerie Char­
Infant Prodigy 1960 and antique dealers. The French have only themselves pentier made a half-hearted attempt to appease the
Bronze
70 ems. high to blame for this absurd situation. Complaining that disgruntled painters by requesting ten well-known and
Musee des Arts Decorat,fs business is so bad. they close down and leave Paris successful artists to list the names of those of the
2 not caring the least that wealthy foreign art collectors younger generation whom they consider to have talent.
Hanich
Automobile Spatial Observatory might put in an appearance. But this scheme failed and now it is unlikely that there
Multi-coloured Electronic Mobile The explanation for this upheaval in the international will be any more School of Paris exhibitions held at
in movement 1 965
Musee Gall1era art trade can be traced back to the collapse in the sale the Galerie Charpentier. Instead, the latest outsize
of abstract art when. three years ago. Paris lost its canvases by Mathieu will be shown during October.
3
Cesar prestige and its wealthy clientele overnight at a An important exhibition is now being held at the
Portrait of Patrick Waldberg 1961
Musee des Arts Decorat,fs pompous evening sale auction. at the Musee Galliera. Musee des Arts Decoratifs, which will last till late

September, of the work of three revolutionary sculptors
Cesar. O'Haese and Tinguely. Theirs is a very different
form of expression as compared to the classic works of
Rodin. Maillol. Bourdelle and Despiau who cut.
carved, chiselled and modelled in plaster. wood. stone
and bronze. Gargallo and Gonzales were the first to
experiment with metal and this has led these three
celebrated sculptors to produce fascinating figures.
objects and machines based on their experience as
turners. welders. mechanics and electricians.
About two years ago I had a long conversation with
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