Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng (second from left) and Pompidou Center President Laurent Le Bon (second from right) jointly unveil the second phase of the five-year exhibition collaboration between the West Bund Museum and the Pompidou Center on Monday at the Pompidou Center in Paris. Also present are Chen Li (left), minister counsellor of China's Embassy in France; and Myriam Saint-Pierre (right), deputy director of the Asia and Oceania department at France's ministry of foreign affairs. [Photo provided to China Daily]
The inauguration ceremony for the second phase of the five-year exhibition collaboration between the West Bund Museum and the Pompidou Center took place at the Pompidou Center in Paris on Monday.
Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng and Pompidou Center President Laurent Le Bon jointly unveiled the new stage of collaboration.
This partnership dates back to 2019, when the West Bund Museum and the Pompidou Center signed a formal five-year exhibition collaboration agreement, which was included for the first time in the China-France Joint Statement.
In 2023, a new phase of the collaboration was signed in the presence of both countries' foreign ministers and, once again, featured in the joint statement.
Since 2019, the two institutions have organized nearly 30 exhibitions that have attracted more than 2 million visitors and showcased more than 1,200 precious works from the Pompidou Center's collection.
The exhibitions not only systematically illustrated the history of modern and contemporary art but also revealed the development and evolution of global art.
"Kandinsky's works were exhibited alongside ancient Chinese bronzes; Western surrealist paintings engaged in a dialogue with Chinese calligraphy and painting; the development of the abstract art movement in China was compared to that in the West. The cultures of both countries intersected here, showcasing the deep heritage and unique charm of these two cultures," said Chen Anda, West Bund Museum's executive director.
In this new phase of the Pompidou Center X West Bund Museum Project, the collaboration will adopt a "century-long" perspective, focusing on the pioneering art movements of the past 100 years, fostering and inspiring new creativity in the new era. The permanent exhibition will introduce a new trilogy with the themes of "Landscape", "Realism", and "Formalism", offering fresh perspectives on the evolution of modern and contemporary art.
Meanwhile, the special collaborative exhibitions will explore the cultural ecosystems of China and France in greater depth, tracing key figures and works in art history while generating localized reflections and new inspirations.
Shanghai Mayor Gong Zheng (front, center), Minister Counsellor of China’s Embassy in France Chen Li (front, left) and Pompidou Center President Laurent Le Bon (right) tour the construction site at the Pompidou Center on Monday in Paris. [Photo provided to China Daily]
Notably, during the inauguration ceremony, the upcoming exhibition China: A New Generation of Artists was previewed. The exhibition, set to debut next month at the Pompidou Center, has been jointly curated by both institutions and has taken more than two years to prepare.
"On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries, this exhibition showcases the vitality and excellence of the Chinese art scene. I would like to point out that Shanghai is widely represented there," Le Bon said.
During this second five-year phase, the two institutions will continue to advance the exchange and integration of Chinese and French culture and art. With an expanded cultural vision, they will deepen their collaboration across all levels and jointly explore new possibilities in the fields of culture and art.
Le Bon noted that for more than a century, Paris has been the city of choice for many of the most outstanding Chinese artists, all of whom have close ties to Shanghai. Names include Xu Beihong, Pan Yuliang, Lin Fengmian, and, more recently, Chen Zhen and Yan Pei-Ming.
Furthermore, some of the earliest works of the first generation of Chinese artists active in Paris since the 1920s are part of the Pompidou Center's collection.
"And it is a great joy to renew the partnership that binds us for five more years of fruitful and exciting exchanges, from which, I am convinced, new high-quality projects will emerge," Le Bon added.
Attendees at Monday's inauguration ceremony included Ma Chunlei, secretary-general of the Shanghai municipal government, Chen Li, minister counsellor at China's Embassy in France, Myriam Saint-Pierre, deputy director of the Asia and Oceania department of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Yannick Faure, head of the legal and international affairs department at French Ministry of Culture.
Julie Narbey, executive director of the Pompidou Center; Xavier Rey, director of the French National Museum of Modern Art; and other cultural or artistic figures involved in Sino-French cooperation were also in attendance.
