[Ad] Alberto Giacometti Retrospective at Yuz Museum Shanghai

Alberto Giacometti’s Retrospective exhibition will land in Yuz Museum, Shanghai in March, 2016. It is not only the first Giacometti exhibition in China, but also the world's largest retrospective to date, after Paris - Centre Pompidou (2007). In May 2015, Yuz Museum and Fondation Giacometti held a signing ceremony in Beijing State Guesthouse, witnessed by representatives of the governments of France and China, and in October they announced the exhibition at Royal Academy of Arts in London. After that the Yuz Museum has recently launched a series of public programs and communication activities to warm up the exhibition.

Alberto Giacometti, one of the greatest sculptors and artists of the 20th century, is widely regarded as the embodiment of the spirit of modernism. Artistic images including the sculpture of "walking man" created by him, owning to the depiction of the postwar human psychology and the humanistic spirit of the 20th century, have become immortal masterpieces in the art history. As one of the spokesmen of the modern art of the 20th century, Giacometti has profound impact on the development of the postwar modern art, and has inspired numerous artists of the East and the West. Therefore he is widely recognized as "the artist of the artists".

He has also influenced many Chinese artists` practice as well as their perception to modern art. Besides, Giacometti is one of the world's most ‘expensive’ sculptor, who has been a constant auction record breaker during the past decade.

Speaking about the figure of the walker, Mr. Budi Tek, founder of the Yuz Musuem says, ‘ he seems to move forward, against all misfortune, toward an unchartered territory of which he is not afraid… It’s that wide freedom of movement that Giacometti’s walking man conveys to me. Today, it is my honor and humble pleasure to be able to bring for the first time to China at the Yuz Museum in the West Bund of Shanghai, the Alberto Giacometti Retrospective. We are proud to be associated with the Giacometti Fondation to contribute to this historical moment in art. The knowledge and emotions, joined together by 250 works by the Master will impose their freedom and authority in the spectacular spaces of the Yuz Museum.’

Giacometti’s retrospective is curated by Catherine Grenier, director of Fondation Giacometti, who previously served as the deputy director of the National Museum of Modern Art – Centre Pompidou, with the associate curator Christian Alandete.

The exhibition will present about 250 works owned by the Fondation Giacometti, which becomes a comprehensive overview of the artist's career spanning half a century, including the most iconic "Walking Man" (1960), "Spoon Woman" 1927 (1953 version), "Walking Woman" (1932), "The Nose" (1947), "The Cage" (1951). The exhibition covers the entire career of Giacometti from the early years, the Cubist and Surrealist periods all the way to the 1960s’ prolific period. Giacometti’s widely acclaimed works, such as portrait drawings, paintings, manuscripts and other archival material, will provide abundant clues for a comprehensive understanding and appreciation of his art. The extremely tiny works that he created in his 23-square-meter studio in Paris and the later works - huge monumental bronze sculptures created for New York Chase Manhattan Plaza, will form strong visual tension in the scene. The existential spirit and humanism conveyed will become the most thrilling part of the exhibition. The exhibition is not only a comprehensive review of the artist`s creation career, but also tries to reflect the culture and life of an exciting era after the war in the 20th century.