Jacques Chirac celebrated at Quai Branly

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Animal guarding a tomb, North China, Tang Dynasty, Musée Cernuschi

Animal guarding a tomb, North China, Tang Dynasty, Musée Cernuschi

The atmosphere was not as festive as it should have been for a tenth anniversary and the reason was that the principal hero was absent. Musée du Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac is hosting an exhibition in honor of its founder, the former President of the Republic. His childhood passion for Musée Guimet, his admiration for Chinese statues and Japanese masks or sumo wrestlers, his warm welcome while he was mayor of Paris to the Canadian Indians, made of Jacques Chirac a friend of lost civilizations.

Jacques Chirac, when he was mayor of Paris, welcomes Haidas Amerindians from Western Canada, August 1989

All of this was clearly explained by Jean Jacques Aillagon, the curator of the show, who was culture minister under Chirac’s presidency and now works for François Pinault (one of Chirac’s most faithful friend) who financed the exhibition. I regretted not being surprised at any time in the show.  Musée de l’Immigration, Musée Cernuschi, Musée Guimet and some private collectors lent many beautiful pieces that were cleverly mixed with contemporary photographies by Samuel Fosso, Sebastiao Salgado and Leila Alaoui (who recently died in a terrorist attack in Burkina Fasso) and art by Jan Fabre, who all give a hip addition to Chirac’s taste and cultural choices. But there is no sparkling in the exhibition. No soul.

Wilfredo Lam, Young girl on grey, 1940

Wilfredo Lam, Young girl on grey, 1940

Even the superb Japanese armor is dark in a dark corner. I enjoyed a little room devoted to “art brut” and  “A soldier in Africa” painted by Antoine Paucard. All in all, the 150 art works and 200 documents (among which many important books) will not give the ebullient image I have kept of Jacques Chirac, his energy and his taste for difference!

Omar Victor Diop, JeanBaptiste Belley, 2014 courtesy galerie Magnin-A

Omar Victor Diop, JeanBaptiste Belley, 2014 courtesy galerie Magnin-A

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