the living heritage of intercultural artistic exchange
It is our great pleasure to reveal the imminent restoration of the last preserved atelier of the historical artists community of Cité Falguière in Paris. This cultural heritage project has been initiated by L'AiR Arts with the vision of establishing an International Arts Research Residence dedicated to the intercultural artistic exchange as the legacy of the École de Paris.
Built in the 1870s in Montparnasse, Cité Falguière welcomed more than a hundred artists over its 150 years of artistic history. Some as famous as Amedeo Modigliani, Tsuguharu Foujita, Constantin Brancusi, Chaïm Soutine, and Paul Gauguin. Others are lesser-known artists, including many Russian citizens (Belarusians, and Ukrainians), Polish, Japanese, but also French, Germans, Norwegians, Swedish, Yugoslavs, Serbs, Belgians, Hungarian, Turkish, Iranian and Cuban. Known as the École de Paris, the cross-cultural exchange between artists of different nationalities, languages, cultures and religions resulted in a remarkable diversity of styles and marked the birth of Modernism, one of the most prolific periods in art history.
With the urban renewal in the 1960s, however, most artist studios of the Cité Falguière were gradually destroyed to give way to private apartment buildings. The last remaining artist studio at Cité Falguière is Atelier 11. For the past 40+ years the original purpose of this artist studio was carried on by a woman painter of Serbian origin, Mira Maodus. Previously, the most notable residents of this Atelier were two Jewish artists from different cultural backgrounds, Russian-Lithuanian Chaïm Soutine and Italian Amedeo Modigliani. For a period of time, the two artists shared the atelier space that brought them closer together and provided the opportunity for exchange, encouragement and shared inspirations. This resulted in many important works that are now held in major museum collections around the world.
It is our great pleasure to reveal the imminent restoration of the last preserved atelier of the historical artists community of Cité Falguière in Paris. This cultural heritage project has been initiated by L'AiR Arts with the vision of establishing an International Arts Research Residence dedicated to the intercultural artistic exchange as the legacy of the École de Paris.
Built in the 1870s in Montparnasse, Cité Falguière welcomed more than a hundred artists over its 150 years of artistic history. Some as famous as Amedeo Modigliani, Tsuguharu Foujita, Constantin Brancusi, Chaïm Soutine, and Paul Gauguin. Others are lesser-known artists, including many Russian citizens (Belarusians, and Ukrainians), Polish, Japanese, but also French, Germans, Norwegians, Swedish, Yugoslavs, Serbs, Belgians, Hungarian, Turkish, Iranian and Cuban. Known as the École de Paris, the cross-cultural exchange between artists of different nationalities, languages, cultures and religions resulted in a remarkable diversity of styles and marked the birth of Modernism, one of the most prolific periods in art history.
With the urban renewal in the 1960s, however, most artist studios of the Cité Falguière were gradually destroyed to give way to private apartment buildings. The last remaining artist studio at Cité Falguière is Atelier 11. For the past 40+ years the original purpose of this artist studio was carried on by a woman painter of Serbian origin, Mira Maodus. Previously, the most notable residents of this Atelier were two Jewish artists from different cultural backgrounds, Russian-Lithuanian Chaïm Soutine and Italian Amedeo Modigliani. For a period of time, the two artists shared the atelier space that brought them closer together and provided the opportunity for exchange, encouragement and shared inspirations. This resulted in many important works that are now held in major museum collections around the world.
International Arts Research Residence
As a not-for-profit organization with a mission to support intercultural exchange through arts residency programs, L’AiR Arts has negotiated the exclusive rights to restore the Atelier 11 building and transform it into an International Arts Research Residence. A historic hub for artistic exchange, our vision for this Arts Residence is to revive the open and creative energy of the École de Paris and to support cross-cultural dialogue today through diverse cultural programming.
Local and international artists and cultural professionals will have an opportunity to participate in this unique initiative, connecting past and present, local and global. To borrow French scholar Michel Espagne’s concept of “cultural transfers,” artists are often “vectors” in the cross-cultural exchanges that fuel the evolution of culture, politics and society. This residency will offer post-pandemic opportunities, while helping to revive creative mobility and intercultural exchange. “To become attentive to cultural changes implies revising, at least virtually, the structures of collective memory… seeking imported elements, which are often marginalized.” - Espagne writes in his recent article on the subject.
To celebrate atelier’s historical legacy as a global arts community, L’AiR Arts will initiate several artistic projects in the summer-fall 2021, before embarking on the restoration and construction programme. The objective of these inaugural programs is to facilitate the continuity between centuries and to preserve the link between past and future by honouring historical residents of Cité Falguière and celebrating contemporary artists.
The 2022/23 residency season post-renovation will mark the beginning of the atelier’s new chapter as a place for research and creation. The Atelier 11 residency will be focused on solo and duo projects that will run parallel to our international group programs, arts residencies for local practitioners and events open to a broader community. An experimental collaborative platform for contemporary projects, it will be supported by 4 main pillars: intercultural exchange, research, professional development and creation.
Atelier 11 mirrors the symbol for equality = a horizontal exchange between artists and cultural professionals from various cultural backgrounds, of different ages and genders, and at all stages of their professional careers. Cultural and academic institutions in France and abroad are invited to become partners in this initiative and organize joint programs for their constituents tailored to their mission.
Restoration and Construction
Bursting with artistic and cultural heritage, the Atelier requires a major restoration. To preserve the architectural heritage of this remarkable building and to continue the artistic legacy of Montparnasse within the contemporary culture, L’AiR Arts Association together with local and international artists and architects plans to initiate an extensive restoration and renovation of both exterior and interior spaces of the Atelier. Set to begin by the end of 2021, the renovation will result in a multi-functional three-level space, including shared workshop and gathering space, multimedia art space, research library, and an accommodation space for visiting professionals. These functional and welcoming spaces will preserve the essence and artistic spirit of a quintessential artist studio of Montparnasse while offering a practical and relevant platform for contemporary projects.
Bursting with artistic and cultural heritage, the Atelier requires a major restoration. To preserve the architectural heritage of this remarkable building and to continue the artistic legacy of Montparnasse within the contemporary culture, L’AiR Arts Association together with local and international artists and architects plans to initiate an extensive restoration and renovation of both exterior and interior spaces of the Atelier. Set to begin by the end of 2021, the renovation will result in a multi-functional three-level space, including shared workshop and gathering space, multimedia art space, research library, and an accommodation space for visiting professionals. These functional and welcoming spaces will preserve the essence and artistic spirit of a quintessential artist studio of Montparnasse while offering a practical and relevant platform for contemporary projects.
Special thanks to Mira Maodus for safeguarding the artistic legacy of Atelier 11 to allow future generations of artists to benefit from this historic place
|
|
With support from partners in France and around the world, we hope to restore the artistic spirit of this global arts community in Paris and to ensure its sustainability for generations to come. Everyone is invited to join our collective efforts of preserving, restoring and animating the living heritage of the École de Paris represented by the Atelier 11.
For more information about Cité Falguière please visit this page.
For information about the project visit Ville de Paris website.
To learn more about the project, please contact us at info@lairarts.com.
For more information about Cité Falguière please visit this page.
For information about the project visit Ville de Paris website.
To learn more about the project, please contact us at info@lairarts.com.