Born in Switzerland, based in France, Alberto Giacometti (1901-1966) was one of the 20th century’s most important European sculptors. Initially, the artist admired African and Oceanic sculpture and Cubism, and absorbed the influence of cutting-edge trends such as the Surrealist movement, which he joined in the late 1920s. Then, in 1935, Giacometti began working with models to develop his own unique creative style.

By visibly elongating the lines of the body, he arrived at a completely new type of sculpture. Giacometti set out to capture the essential human qualities without ostentation while struggling with conflict between seeing and making. The fact that Giacometti’s idiosyncratic works were acclaimed in fields like existentialism and phenomenology demonstrates how closely his sculpture corresponded to the spirit of the age. The artist also enjoyed a friendship with Yanaihara Isaku (1918-1989) and his use of the Japanese philosopher as a model provided him with a great deal of inspiration.

Drawing primarily on the collection of the Fondation Maeght, located in southern France, this exhibition will serve as a full-scale retrospective of Alberto Giacometti’s career. Along with the Fondation Giacometti facilities in Paris and Zürich, the Fondation Maeght, housing countless works by this singular sculptor, boasts one of the three largest Giacometti collections in the world. With the cooperation of domestic collectors with invaluable works by the artist, the exhibition is scheduled to showcase 132 specially selected works, including sculptures, oil paintings, sketches, and prints, from throughout the artist’s life.