Raoul Dufy retrospective exhibition opens in Shanghai, epic masterpiece “Electric Elf” debuts in China
China News Service, Shanghai, November 10 (Reporter Wang Ji) Raoul Dufy’s retrospective exhibition “Happy Melody” opened at the West Bund Art Museum in Shanghai on the 10th, providing a complete review of this independent man known for delivering the joy of life. Artistic achievements of masters of art. Among them, the lithograph version of the epic masterpiece “Electric Elf” made its debut in China.
This exhibition features more than 120 masterpieces by Raoul Dufy, including paintings, prints, ceramics, textiles, etc., following the evolution of modernist art such as Impressionism, Fauvism, Cubism, and Decorative Art. A comprehensive presentation of Duffy’s wide creative scope and unparalleled creativity. These exhibition works are selected from the heavyweight collection of the Pompidou Center in France, and have unprecedentedly assembled Duffy’s classic masterpieces from more than 20 art museums and art institutions in France, Spain and other places.
What attracts the most attention in the exhibition hall is undoubtedly Duffy’s epic masterpiece “The Electric Elf”. Through the blend of myths and fables, it depicts Aristotle, Archimedes, Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo, Newton, The portraits of 111 philosophers, scientists and thinkers, including Edison and Marie Curie, not only show the tremendous changes that electricity has brought to human life, but also celebrate human achievements in physics, especially electricity.
Dufy was invited to create the decorative masterpiece “Electric Elf” at the Paris World’s Fair in France in 1937. However, this Dufy masterpiece disappeared from public view for a long time after that. It was not until 1961 that it was exhibited in the Paris Modern Art Museum. Reassembled for display in the museum. In his later years (1952-1953), Duffy repainted the “Electric Elf” in the exhibition hall in the form of lithograph.
Ceremonies, sports events, skyscrapers, coastal scenery, food and daily life, celebrity portraits… Strolling through the exhibition hall, the audience seems to have opened a vivid picture of life in the first half of the 20th century. And this is where Duffy stands out. He used his works to record many major events of that era, and was extremely passionate about various manifestations of technological progress.
According to curator Christian Brion, Dufy can be considered a “painter of modern life” from many perspectives. “These depictions of current events are comparable to news reports. We see that Duffy seems to want to include all activities of modern people in his works and declare his belief in the continuous progress and development of mankind. The works he created show that There is a sense of modernity in the way he understands and represents an ever-evolving world.”
It is reported that Raoul Dufy’s retrospective exhibition “Happy Melody” will last until February 25, 2024. (over)
