ARTISTS' JOURNEYS: SEAN SCULLY ON HENRI MATISSE (TV)
Summary
One in this miniseries in which contemporary artists explore the lives and works of artists of the past. In this program, Irish-born New York artist Sean Scully probes the life and art of Henri Matisse. Scully discusses his interest in Africa, and how it is a common enthusiasm shared with Matisse, who lived in Tangiers, Morocco, from 1912-13. Scully then makes connections between his own and Matisse's paintings, and points out similarities in the use of pattern juxtaposition, repetitions and the theme of windows. Prompted by an interviewer, Scully explains why he is more interested in Matisse's art than an artist like Piet Mondrian. Over archival footage of Matisse painting, Scully describes the appeal of the flaws in Matisse's art. He visits the Museum of Modern Art in New York and discusses the pressure Matisse must have felt from the Cubists in the 1910s in Paris as he views works painted by Matisse in that period, including "The Piano Lesson" (1916), "Woman on a High Stool" (1914) and "The Moroccans" (1915). Scully discusses "the Moroccans" in detail as well as the architecture of Tangiers. Scully meets with American ex-patriot writer Paul Bowles in Tangiers, who describes his first visit to Tangiers and the changes in the landscape and culture that have occurred since. Back in his studio, Scully constructs a painting as he discusses the flatness of Matisse's works, later elaborating on the topic with artist Catherine Lee. He then discusses Matisse's "The Blue Window" (1913). He talks with New York-based Sudanese printmaker Mohammad Khalil about their collaboration on Scully's prints for an edition of Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness." They discuss the light in Tangiers and other parts of Africa and its relation to Matisse's art. Back with Bowles in Tangiers, Scully listens to Bowles describe his first encounter with a collection of Matisse's paintings. After traveling to Tetouan, Morocco, Scully meets with Professor of Philosophy Arthur C. Danto, with whom he discusses the differences between Matisse's perception of Morocco and the reality of Morocco, and between Western and Eastern perceptions of time and nature. Scully discusses Moroccan carpets and compares them to Matisse's "Cafe Maroc." Scully visits a chapel decorated by Matisse and discusses the stained glass and Matisse's paper cut-outs. Scully then described his interest in the battle he perceives as fought between artist and painting in Matisse's works "The Moroccans" and "The Piano Lesson."
The acquisition and cataloging of this program was made possible by Agnes Gund and Daniel Shapiro, 2003.
Details
- NETWORK: BBC2 (United Kingdom)
- DATE: June 14, 1992
- RUNNING TIME: 0:40:40
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:40026
- GENRE: Arts documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: International Collection - United Kingdom; Matisse, Henri, 1869-1954 -- Criticism and interpretation; Modern and contemporary art
- SERIES RUN: BBC (United Kingdom) - TV series, 1992
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - "Artists' Journeys Guide" (book on this series)
- TV - Promos -"Artists' Journeys: Pierre Bonard"
CREDITS
- Keith Alexander … Executive Producer
- Paul Tickell … Producer
- Bruno Wolfheim … Prodiction (Misc.), Program Consultant
- Sean Scully … Narrator
- Paul Bowles
- Arthur C. Danto
- Mohammad Khalil
- Catherine Lee
- Joseph Conrad
- Henri Matisse
- Piet Mondrian