La maison atelier de Foujita à Villiers-le-Bâcle

Abstract

Between tangible and intangible memories, the artist’s home is a privileged place, inspired and inspiring. It is an intimate place where privacy and creational space fit together. Tiniest object becomes relics and the house becomes a protective screen, so that container and contents intertwine, to the point where it is practically impossible to consider one without the other. Transforming this private house into a place open to visitors requires a delicate approach and a consideration of the strong interplay between the furniture and the building. But conserving this space in a frozen state is in contradiction with its liveliness and changing atmospheres during the artist’s lifetime. This naturally poses questions about the renewal and enrichment of the collections, but also about what exactly is on offer to the visiting public. Three axes have been defined: explain the exceptional trajectory of a Japanese artist who chose to live in France without ever denying his roots or his country of origin; discover a preserved artist’s workshop; and finally, highlight artistic techniques, allowing young audiences in particular to understand that behind a painting or a work of art there is a hand, a desire, a know-how.

Keywords

• artist’s house
• workshop
• Foujita
• Essonne
• memorial site
• protection