For over a century now, artists from all over the world have been flocking to Paris for inspiration. Those seeking to satisfy their passion for drawing attended the independent art academies of Montparnasse, which offered intellectual and artistic freedom from the constraints imposed by the fine art schools of the time. Specializing in life drawing, charcoal drawing, sketching, or the nude, establishments such as l'Académie de la Grande Chaumière founded in 1904, were frequented by the likes of Chagall, Giacometti, Bourdelle, Foujita, Calder, Lempicka, Fernand Léger, Louise Bourgeois, Joan Miró, Chaïm Soutine and Ossip Zadkine, who later taught in these academies or in their own studios.
Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, artists from abroad also spent countless hours studying works held in museum collections. Chaïm Soutine's still lifes were influenced by the works of Chardin and Rembrandt in the Louvre, while its Egyptian collection inspired Modigliani and Zadkine; Marc Chagall’s struggles for modernity drew on Delacroix’s art.
An essential part of the production process for many artists, drawing was historically overshadowed by the monumental mediums of sculpture and painting. Yet in the context of contemporary art, drawing is re-emerging as a powerful medium of its own. For example, in 2019, British artist Tracy Emin was invited to respond to the collection of the Musée d'Orsay, which she did by choosing works from the museum's collection, and displaying them in tandem with a series of her drawings in an exhibition titled The Fear of Loving. As the curatorial team noted at the time, drawing is “perhaps the most fragile art form, the one that best reflects sentiments and intellect”.
Our Drawing Residency seeks to pursue this tradition of drawing research: artists in the 2020/21 residency were invited to explore the online collections of three Paris museums and make a drawing or series of drawings inspired by any work or group of works they choose. The studio-museums of the sculptors Ossip Zadkine, Chana Orloff and Antoine Bourdelle contain many treasures reflecting the richness and variety of the Ecole de Paris, that may be freely reinterpreted from a contemporary point of view. In the spirit of the experimental art academies and ateliers of Montparnasse, all drawing styles, techniques and materials were permitted, in dialogue with the past.
Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, artists from abroad also spent countless hours studying works held in museum collections. Chaïm Soutine's still lifes were influenced by the works of Chardin and Rembrandt in the Louvre, while its Egyptian collection inspired Modigliani and Zadkine; Marc Chagall’s struggles for modernity drew on Delacroix’s art.
An essential part of the production process for many artists, drawing was historically overshadowed by the monumental mediums of sculpture and painting. Yet in the context of contemporary art, drawing is re-emerging as a powerful medium of its own. For example, in 2019, British artist Tracy Emin was invited to respond to the collection of the Musée d'Orsay, which she did by choosing works from the museum's collection, and displaying them in tandem with a series of her drawings in an exhibition titled The Fear of Loving. As the curatorial team noted at the time, drawing is “perhaps the most fragile art form, the one that best reflects sentiments and intellect”.
Our Drawing Residency seeks to pursue this tradition of drawing research: artists in the 2020/21 residency were invited to explore the online collections of three Paris museums and make a drawing or series of drawings inspired by any work or group of works they choose. The studio-museums of the sculptors Ossip Zadkine, Chana Orloff and Antoine Bourdelle contain many treasures reflecting the richness and variety of the Ecole de Paris, that may be freely reinterpreted from a contemporary point of view. In the spirit of the experimental art academies and ateliers of Montparnasse, all drawing styles, techniques and materials were permitted, in dialogue with the past.
Participating Artists
Dulce Chacón (Mexico), Akira Chinen (Peru), Tatiana Ferahian (Armenia / Cyprus), Dipali Gupta (India / Malaysia), Yen Ha (Vietnam / United States), Ole Lejbach (Denmark), Lorena Morales (Venezuela / United States), Grazielle Bruscato Portella (Brazil / Portugal), Jennifer Printz (United States), Nicole Shimonek (Canada), Hannah Stahulak (United States),
Explore the Work
Using drawing as a focal point, artists were invited to create a contemporary work that connects back to history, revisiting the places, approaches and traditions honed by foreign artists during their time in Paris.
Visit the Exhibition or click on the image below to learn more about each work.
Dulce Chacón (Mexico), Akira Chinen (Peru), Tatiana Ferahian (Armenia / Cyprus), Dipali Gupta (India / Malaysia), Yen Ha (Vietnam / United States), Ole Lejbach (Denmark), Lorena Morales (Venezuela / United States), Grazielle Bruscato Portella (Brazil / Portugal), Jennifer Printz (United States), Nicole Shimonek (Canada), Hannah Stahulak (United States),
Explore the Work
Using drawing as a focal point, artists were invited to create a contemporary work that connects back to history, revisiting the places, approaches and traditions honed by foreign artists during their time in Paris.
Visit the Exhibition or click on the image below to learn more about each work.
Draw. It's only drawing that can get you back on track. You can't give in to boredom or sadness when you're drawing.
- Ossip Zadkine
Virtual Residency
In today’s digital age, intensified by the pandemic, artists and arts institutions are developing their digital presence and offering new virtual opportunities for a close, in-depth experience, thereby creating new pathways for inspiration, knowledge and research.
This exhibition also serves as an online residency, virtually bringing artists from different continents to the historic Montparnasse district. L’AiR Arts has invited international artists selected for a Drawing Research Residency to explore the online collections of three Paris studio-museums: Musée Zadkine, Musée Chana Orloff, and Musée Bourdelle. Less known to the general public, these cultural institutions not only celebrate the legacy of the artists whose works they display but also preserve the memory of the Ecole de Paris - whose influence continues to shape the international arts scene up until today. In the same way as our in-person programs in Paris, resident artists virtually visit cultural venues, conduct their artistic research and engage in a facilitated discussion with Paris-based curators, while also sharing their findings with fellow residents.
In today’s digital age, intensified by the pandemic, artists and arts institutions are developing their digital presence and offering new virtual opportunities for a close, in-depth experience, thereby creating new pathways for inspiration, knowledge and research.
This exhibition also serves as an online residency, virtually bringing artists from different continents to the historic Montparnasse district. L’AiR Arts has invited international artists selected for a Drawing Research Residency to explore the online collections of three Paris studio-museums: Musée Zadkine, Musée Chana Orloff, and Musée Bourdelle. Less known to the general public, these cultural institutions not only celebrate the legacy of the artists whose works they display but also preserve the memory of the Ecole de Paris - whose influence continues to shape the international arts scene up until today. In the same way as our in-person programs in Paris, resident artists virtually visit cultural venues, conduct their artistic research and engage in a facilitated discussion with Paris-based curators, while also sharing their findings with fellow residents.
Q&A with the Artists
At a time when it is increasingly difficult to travel and visit cultural institutions, we invite you to join each artist on their virtual research visit to studio-museums in Paris through this Q&A series with curator Rahma Khazam:
We hope that our virtual residency exhibition will offer you a unique opportunity to learn more about Paris's arts and culture from the perspective of contemporary art.
At a time when it is increasingly difficult to travel and visit cultural institutions, we invite you to join each artist on their virtual research visit to studio-museums in Paris through this Q&A series with curator Rahma Khazam:
- Dulce Chacón
- Akira Chinen
- Tatiana Ferahian
- Dipali Gupta
- Yen Ha
- Ole Lejbach
- Lorena Morales
- Jennifer Printz
- Nicole Shimonek
- Hannah Stahulak
We hope that our virtual residency exhibition will offer you a unique opportunity to learn more about Paris's arts and culture from the perspective of contemporary art.
Graphic design: Anastasia Venkova
Image: Jennifer Printz, 2021
Image: Jennifer Printz, 2021