Chillida

June 26 > 13 November

From 26 June to 13 November, the Maeght Foundation presents a retrospective of Eduardo Chillida (1924-2002). This « sculptor turned blacksmith » (Gaston Bachelard), is famous for his monumental sculptures as well as for his poetically constructed collages using a variety of materials. This exhibition was inspired by the Spanish artist’s close relationship with Aimé Maeght. Almost 140 works are on display: 80 sculptures and 60 works on paper. The Maeght Foundation pays homage to this artist who wrote « I never seek beauty. But when you do things as they should be done, they may sometimes turn out to be beautiful », the exhibition bears witness to the long friendship which united the Maeght and Chillida families.  

Making use of the indoor and outdoor areas of the Maeght Foundation, this exceptional retrospective is organized as a chronological display where the visitor can discover which the evolution of this major XX^th century artist’s work. Julien Alvard, writing in 1956, said of Chillida: « his works….dislike the affected and flashy; they aim at the essential, they reach it and hold onto it. (…) He works with sobriety and power, with total and prolific discipline ». 

This unique exhibition brings together works from the families of Chillida and Maeght, from the Maeght Foundation and loans from some of the greatest European collections. Certain works have never before been displayed in public.

Exhibition's room

If Eduardo Chillida is the artist of iron, the exhibition at the Maeght Foundation is an opportunity to discover the different materials which the artist worked with at all his stages of creativity: wood, alabaster, chamotte, granite, concrete etc. This retrospective also displays Chillida’s works on paper especially his engravings and superb collages, with their sober force, as well as his « gravitations »: a technique between collage and sculpture created by Eduardo Chillida in the mid- eighties.

“Eyes are for seeing both near and far”

A garden for display and a home for creation.
The exhibition is coordinated by Ignacio Chillida, the artist’s son. It retraces the history of the long friendship between Eduardo Chillida and Aimé Maeght, who supported and encouraged the young artist at the beginning of his career in Paris in 1948. Chillida thus became the youngest artist to be shown at the Maeght Gallery from 1950. Eduardo Chillida made many of his engravings during visits to the family at the Foundation, where he also started working on the chamotte technique.
According to the exhibition commissioner, Ignacio Chillida, « In St Paul de Vence, Chillida experienced the most enriching and moving moments of his artistic career ». Photos and films never seen before bear witness to these moments of friendship as well as to the creative vitality of the Foundation Maeght’s atmoshphere.

Exhibition curator: Ignacio Chillida

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