Setting the standard in art exhibitions

The exhibition will include a number of paintings, drawings, collages and prints covering all the dominant themes in the artist’s body of work, from his early years, through his interest in exoticism and orientalism, to the paper cut-outs that he produced in the last years of his life.

The exhibition titled Rhythm and Meaning, will be the first wide-ranging exhibition of Matisse’s work to be held in South Africa, and the fourth exhibition of important 20th-century modernists to be held at the gallery.

“The Henri Matisse exhibition will give South Africans the rare opportunity to experience the work of one of the 20th-century’s modern masters first hand,” said Ben Kruger, CEO of Standard Bank.

“The exhibition forms part of our continued commitment to the support and development of the arts in South Africa from the multi-disciplinary Standard Bank Young Artist Awards to grass roots jazz development at the Standard BankYouth Jazz Festival.”

The works will be drawn primarily from the collection of the Musée Matisse – which was established by Matisse himself in 1952 – and will be augmented with works from private collectors and the Johannesburg Art Gallery.

The core work, the Jazz prints, were prepared from cut-out paper collages that Matisse produced during the World War II and published in 1947 with the noted art publisher, Tériade.

But the exhibition is not being displayed merely for the sake of art lovers and the art community; an extensive educational programme aimed at primary and secondary school pupils as well as the general art-loving public will support the exhibition.

Commenting on the significance of this exhibition for South African audiences, Professor Federico Freschi, executive dean of the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture at the University of Johannesburg noted that “the art of Henri Matisse has universal appeal”.

Details: dianne.graney@standardbank.co.za