A few words and pictures to encourage you to visit the superb Fernand Léger museum in Biot, the temporary exhibition "Vis-à-vis, Fernand Léger and his friends", the permanent exhibition, the architecture and the layout of the places not forgetting the very pleasant garden, its refreshment bar with a view of the gigantic outdoor mosaic with bright and refreshing colors.
A garden sheltered by pines
Except one day in very bad weather, the stop in the garden, in the shade of pine trees in front of a drink or even a meal, facing the mosaic adorning the facade of the museum, participates in the pleasure of visiting the place. A kind of appetizer before entering the museum. The park is home to a small pine forest of Mediterranean species, olive trees, cypresses ... The design of the park was entrusted to Henri Fich who also worked at the Chagall Museum in Nice. Anecdotal, but very nice, large "poufs" (sitting made small balls) can comfortably fit for a possible nap. The 400 square meters juxtaposing mosaics and ceramics are, from a drawing by Leger, the work of Heidi and Lino Melano (mosaics) and Roland and Claude Brice (for the ceramic part on the right of the composition and representing scenes games and bicycles).
The first museum of modern art on the French Riviera
On land acquired a few months before his death in the town of Biot, his widow, Nadia, and his closest collaborator, Georges Bauquier, had the museum built by the architect André Svetchine. The inauguration under the patronage of Picasso, Chagall and Braque brings together more than five thousand guests. In 1969, Andre Malraux, then Minister of Culture, received in the name of the State the donation by the Léger family of the museum and its works.
The museum consists of two floors in a modern style with many skylights both lateral and vertical on the second floor. The ground floor hosts a first and large room at the end of which is the auditorium broadcasting explanatory videos. This room presents to visitors the museum, its history and its construction. Mosaics are offered to the touch of the visitor, who is thus sensorially and digitally active during his visit. A very interesting series of photos retraces the life of the museum, Fernand Léger and his family.
Temporary exhibition "Vis-à-vis" until September 23, 2019
Spread over the two floors, this is the third and last part of this section highlighting the collaborative work and friendships of the painter but also the reciprocal influences of the work of the artist. This third section explores the themes of human representation and landscapes. You will have the opportunity to admire the paintings of the painter and those of many of his contemporaries such as Picasso, Botero, Delaunay, Braque, Dubuffet, Matisse etc.
A possible guided tour (free on the first Sunday of the month) or otherwise the use of an audiophone will allow you to better understand and identify all these artistic relationships ... The curators of the exhibition are Anne Dopffer and Julie Guttierez.
A bright and modern second floor housing many works by Fernand Léger
The first room upstairs offers a very informative chronological fresco contextualizing the life and work of Fernand Léger during the late 19th and early 20th century. A monumental stained glass colors the place. Part of the temporary exhibition occupies a vast room separated by large partitions. Here you will find Eduardo Arroyo's painting of Fernand Léger sitting astride a chair, illustrating the poster for the temporary exhibition.
The more classical works of the permanent exhibition are in the last wing of this floor. Monochrome ceramics, or almost, bring out curves, faces and scenes. While almost naive paintings of all sizes illuminate the places with their bright colors. Leger's colorist talents liven up the visit. Many colors seem to have been drawn just outside the museum: the different shades of green vegetation, the blues of the sky and the sea, the ocher and red of the local architecture not to mention the mimosa yellows and others flowers.
To note the presence of a small space dedicated to the reading of work of art, pleasant and sympathetic.
You have understood from reading the few lines above, we warmly recommend the visit of this museum both for the beauty of the works of Fernand Léger, their power, as for the layout of the places. Visitors to the museum are here involved in their journey. Many activities, such as reading workshop, children's workshops etc ... will allow you to attend this museum as a real place to live.
🎪🤩 #cirque audacieux acrobaties sur #chaises par les incroyables du @Cirque La compagnie & @Pistedazur !! 🤩🎪 pic.twitter.com/y3VzPAsLkV
— Musée Fernand Léger (@MuseeLeger) 10 juin 2019
Few infos
- Musée national Fernand Léger
Chemin du Val de Pôme
06410 Biot - www.musee-fernandleger.fr
- +33 (0)4 92 91 50 30
- Prices: 7,50 €, reduce prices 6 €, groups 7€
- Open every day except Tuesday and May 1st from May to October, from 10h to 18h