Special Exhibition of 'Fauvist Master' Henri Matisse Held at Busan Cultural Center

From July 9 to October 30 at Busan Cultural Center

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] The exhibition "Life and Joy," showcasing the world of works by Henri ?mile-Benoit Matisse, a representative French painter known as the "Painter of Happiness," will be held in Busan following its Seoul debut.

Busan Cultural Center announced on the 23rd that, in collaboration with cultural content company Gaudium Associates, it will hold the "Henri Matisse Life and Joy" exhibition from July 9 to October 30.

This exhibition is the largest-scale exhibition held in Busan since COVID-19 and was planned as part of various cultural programs prepared to attract the "2030 Busan Expo."

Previously, from December 2021 to April 10 of this year, the "Henri Matisse Life and Joy" exhibition was held at the Hangaram Art Museum in Seoul Arts Center. It was the largest Henri Matisse retrospective exhibition in Korea, attracting over 100,000 visitors despite the spread of the Omicron variant.

The "Henri Matisse: Life and Joy" exhibition was designed to provide a three-dimensional perspective on Matisse's life and artistic world through original works, videos, photographs, and various interactive experiences. Featuring over 200 pieces including prints, illustrations, and art books, this exhibition boasts the largest number of original works ever displayed in a solo Henri Matisse exhibition held in Korea.

Notably, the exhibition attracted attention by unveiling the original of "Jazz," one of the world's most famous art books and a representative work of Henri Matisse. "Jazz" is a limited edition art book created using the paper-cutting technique (D?coupage) that Matisse discovered while battling cancer.

First introduced in 1947, "Jazz" contains 20 stencil prints personally produced by Matisse. This exhibition reveals the entire pages containing each stencil print, allowing visitors to experience the original work's feeling and emotion firsthand.

Meanwhile, Busan Cultural Center plans to offer unique and innovative special lectures in connection with this exhibition, providing opportunities to engage more deeply and enjoyably with Matisse's artistic world.