Blog BNP Paribas | The bank for a changing world » Museum

“CoBrA” winds its way to Rome

Raffaella Violentano — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 13:58:16 +0000

The “CoBrA e l’Italia” exhibition taking place at the National Gallery of Modern Art in Rome right now has nothing to do with snakes in Italy. CoBrA was a European avant-garde artistic movement created in Paris—at the Café Notre Dame, to be exact—in the late 40s. The movement’s name was formed with the names of the artists’ home cities: Copenhagen, Brussels and Amsterdam.

Although the group only officially existed until 1951, it gained much momentum and over forty artists had either signed the movement’s manifesto or were indirectly involved. They included painters, sculptors, poets, photographers and filmmakers.

From 4 November 2010 to 3 February 2011, 120 major CoBrA works are ressembled for the first time in Italy, and sponsored by BNL.

A painting in search of light

Isabelle Palsky — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:20:38 +0000

As a loyal and recognised museum sponsor, BNP Paribas Foundation seeks to preserve and to help increase the awareness of museums’ treasures by supporting the restoration of their masterpieces through its “BNP Paribas for Art” program. During the past fifteen years, this program has enabled the restoration of over two hundred works held in French museums and other museums abroad.

To mark the donation of over six hundred works and archives of the painter Eugene Leroy (Tourcoing 1910 – Wasquehal 2000) by his sons Jean-Eugene and Jean-Jacques Leroy to the Eugene Leroy Museum of Fine Arts in Tourcoing, the BNP Paribas Foundation has chosen to contribute to this event by supporting the restoration of forty-five paintings by the artist.

Painting in oils on canvas, Eugene Leroy’s technique was to tirelessly rework the composition that he had completed the day before. He worked on some of his canvasses for over twenty years. The artist sought luminescence of colour; he wanted his coloured paints to become a source of light themselves. This unremitting quest led him to construct his works with a succession of coloured layers. As the years passed and more and more material built up on the canvas, the canvas became unable to support the coloured layer. Another unique aspect of the works of Eugene Leroy is that the paint extends beyond its support, giving it its own physical structure. They all have roughly rectangular shapes, but with very irregular edges.

The painter said of his work: “Everything I’ve ever attempted to paint has been to achieve this, almost a kind of absence, so that the painting is completely itself.”

Notice that the restored paintings will be presented as part of a temporary exhibition scheduled for Autumn 2010, which will be devoted to the work of this artist.

Restoration at the Quimper Museum of Fine Arts

Ann d'Aboville — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 09:50:52 +0000

After having published the album on the permanent collections at the Quimper Museum of Fine Arts in 1993, the BNP Paribas Foundation has just signed a patronage agreement covering the restoration of a set of early Italian paintings that are kept at the museum.

Founded in 1864 to receive the exceptional collection of paintings bequeathed by Jean-Marie de Silguy (1785-1864), the Quimper Museum of Fine Arts – known for its collection devoted to the poet Max Jacob and its paintings inspired by Brittany and by the School of Pont-Aven – has one of the largest collections of early Italian paintings in Brittany. They illustrate the various currents and periods from the Primitives until a fine series of studies from the 18th century, going via the Renaissance, Mannerism, the influence of Caravaggio and 17th century Classicism. Thanks to the support of the BNP Paribas Foundation, 34 of these paintings – which are kept in the museum’s reserves – will be the subject of an in-depth scientific study and restoration. At the end of this restoration campaign, in 2012, a temporary exhibition will present all of these works and the work of the restorers and curators. The collection of Italian paintings in the Quimper Museum of Fine Arts will also be the subject of a publication by the National Institute of Art History.

The Scientific Earth-Ocean expedition: What are they looking for?

Stephen Rempala — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:28:13 +0000

La Boudeuse recently arrived at the ports of French Guiana for the start of their Amazon River expedition… Follow the scientific expedition on their website: http://la-boudeuse.org/en/. Now in English!

Meanwhile in Paris, France, several lectures will be held at the National Maritime Museum on the theme of the Earth-Ocean mission of La Boudeuse. The first lecture of the series, “The Scientific Earth-Ocean expedition: What are they looking for?” is taking place on Thursday January 14th, at 9:00pm at the museum. Bernard Wolfrom, who is in charge of the support team, and Olivier Archambeau, geographer and member of the scientific community of the Society of French Explorers will help the audience better understand the issues and the mission as a whole of the three-masted sailing vessel.

The conference is free and has a limited number of places. To make a reservation, visit the website: www.musee-marine.fr

“Turkey in France Season”

Stephen Rempala — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:30:28 +0000

A supporter of the “Turkey in France Season”, BNP Paribas strives to promote Turkish culture in France, and to encourage co-operation programmes between cultural and artistic institutions. There are two dates to remember in October…

Find out more about the “Turkey in France Season”

Conservation and return of rare beadwork to Peranakan Museum

Ann d'Aboville — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 08:35:32 +0000

The sponsorship by BNP Paribas Singapore Branch and BNP Paribas Foundation is the first of its kind for the National Heritage Board. One of the Peranakan Museum’s star artefacts will make its return to the museum today. The rare beadwork tablecloth – which is one of the world’s largest and finest examples of Peranakan beadwork – is back after undergoing conservation work sponsored by BNP Paribas Singapore Branch and BNP Paribas Foundation. This event marks the first time that the National Heritage Board has received a donation specifically for the conservation of an artefact.

The beadwork tablecloth, which dates back to the early 20th century, has never been displayed in its entirety. Due to damage and wear and tear, its tasselled fringe had always been tucked in and hidden from view. For the work on the tablecloth, conservators from a well-known UK company specialising in the restoration of fine art objects were flown in. Over a period of 5 weeks, the conservators worked at securing and repairing the beadwork tassels and fringe and reinforcing the backing of the tablecloth. The successful conservation of the piece means that visitors can now appreciate the full beauty of the beadwork tablecloth, for the first time.

Having regained its character, this piece will be showcased next, at the Quai Branly Museum, on behalf of an exposition organised with the Peranakan Museum.

*Beadwork uses small beads, a pattern, and needle and thread to create a beaded/stitched piece of art, which resembles a piece of fabric.

> Watch the film about restoration of the Peranakan beadwork

Manuscripts Don’t Burn

Dimitrina Todorova — Mon, 04 May 2009 16:01:54 +0000

For almost a year now, Ukrsibbank, BNP Paribas subsidiary in Ukraine, supports the house of the internationally acclaimed writer Mikhail Bulgakov.

The author of the world classic “The Master and Margarita” once wrote that “manuscripts don’t burn”, a phrase has been prophetic for his world fame and for the ceaseless love of readers. It also holds true for his house in Kiev. The fictional name of №13 Anlekseevsky spusk, is a disguise of the actual house of the writer, situated on №13, Andreyevsky Spusk, where Bulgakov lived from 1906 to 1919. Today has been preserved almost intact, and is open to the public since 1991.Thanks to the personal collections of the Bulgakov and Turbin families, the museum has preserved the unique atmosphere of Bulgakov’s writing as well as the spirit of his time.

The house of Bulgakov is a national monument of historical importance, is situated right next to Ukrsibbank’s offices. Back in the past, the house used to host many receptions and gather the literary and cultural elite of Kiev. Today, the museum organizes literary and cultural events, which often enjoy considerable popularity among intellectual circles. Often times, the visitors are invited to the veranda, where they are offered tea prepared by a specific recipe, conserved from Bulgakov’s times.

In addition to these events, the museum also holds book-club meetings. In the house-museum of Bulgakov has permanent staff, who conduct important research and directed studies, and publishes unreleased manuscripts.

Ukrsibbank Private Banking has been supporting the Bulgakov House museum by purchasing furniture, organising events and supporting some of their research projects. Proud to be able to contribute to this cultural and historic monument, Ukrsibbank intends to continue and expand its support in the future.

A touch tour of the Byzantine and Christian Museum

Dimitrina Todorova — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 08:27:29 +0000

The Byzantine and Christian museum in Athens is now accessible to vision impaired people, thanks to the financial support of BNP Paribas Greece. But what does it really feel like to visit a museum, if one is deprived of sight? We can only begin to understand the world of vision impaired people by witnessing how they experience ours. The Byzantine and Christian Museum shares with us the testimonial of a very special visitor. Have a look!

Vision impaired people can now access a museum in Athens

Anne Garcin — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 10:56:07 +0000

BNP Paribas in Greece participated in the creation of a special program, designed to assist vision impaired people to visit the Byzantine and Christian Museum in Athens. First of its kind in Greece, the initiative provides a tactile tour for the permanent collections of the museum. The visitors are given the opportunity to perceive the objects by touching them while listening to the audio guide with their headphones. In addition, there is also a leaflet in Braille.

Although this might exist elsewhere in the world, it is the first time that a museum in Greece is rendered accessible to vision impaired people. This pioneer initiative aims at opening the collections to a part of the public that could not visit the Museum before.
“We created this special program because we want to open our Museum to all audiences. We believe that the cultural Patrimony kept in our rooms belongs to all, and our ambition is to make it accessible to everybody” says Anastasia Lazaridou, Deputy Director of the Museum.

Among other initiatives that were previously supported by the BNP Paribas Foundation, in cooperation with the Byzantine & Christian Museum in Athens, is the renovation of several frescos dating back from the fifteenth century. Now completely renovated, the frescos originally come from a small monastery on the Leucada Island. They will be available to the public in spring 2009, after the Ministry of Culture officially opens the wing of the museum which will host them.