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Le Corbusier:Art and Architecture - A Life of Creativity

A Celebration on the 120th Anniversary of Le Corbusier's BirthFeaturing his Architecture and his Art, and Including Full-Scale,

Walk-In Reproductions of Three Architectural Spaces

Mori Art Museum, Tokyo26 May (Saturday) – 24 September (Monday), 2007

Le Corbusier is without doubt the best-known non-Japanese architect in Japan. Not

only did this founding father of modernism leave behind numerous architectural icons, but he

was also an artist, working in private to create a vast array of personal creative vistas in

paintings, drawings and sculptures. There was a constant interplay between his architecture

and his art, and similarities can be seen in their development over his career. By covering all

of the various facets of this unique individual’s creative output, "Le Corbusier: Art and

Architecture – A Life of Creativity" seeks to examine Le Corbusier the man, providing an all-

encompassing overview of his achievements.

Le Corbusier Cabanon 1952/2006 reproduction (CASSINA S.p.A., Italy)Courtesy: CASSINA S.p.A., CASSINA IXC. LTD

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A Life of CreativityLe Corbusier was born in 1887 in Switzerland, in time to witness first hand the frenzy

of scientific discovery and technological invention that marked the turn of the century.

However, as the age of mass production dawned, Le Corbusier, like many others of his time,

saw in it the seeds of alienation of the individual and the potential for increasingly inhumane

urban development. Perhaps his greatest achievement was to integrate the industrial

developments of his time into a more human-friendly framework, one that took into

consideration human needs and desires. In the process he created an unmistakably modern,

yet at the same time more humane architectural aesthetic, one that you could say fused the

stark functionality of his architect’s eye with the free-flowing, organic curves of his paintings.

Le CorbusierNature morte rouge au violon1920100 x 81 cmoil on canvas(C) FLC

The exhibition begins with paintings and then continues with models, drawings and

photographs depicting his architecture and urban planning. This composition mirrors Le

Corbusier's life, which was devoted to architecture and art in equal measure. It is

little known that Le Corbusier devoted his mornings to painting; architecture only started in

the afternoons when he went to his office. As he explained, "part of every day of my life has

been devoted to drawing. I have never stopped drawing and painting, looking wherever I

could for the secrets of form. You don't have to look any further than this for the key to my

work and research..."

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Full-scale, Walk-in Reproductions — Experience his Atelier andSignificant Architectural Spaces Firsthand

One of the highlights of the exhibition is a number of full-scale reproductions of

architectural spaces. The show starts with a walk-in model of his atelier in Paris – complete

with furniture and other personal trappings. There is also a full-size reproduction of a two-

story apartment from his important "Unité" project in Marseilles, and another of "le

Petite Cabanon," a small wooden hut he built at Cap Martin in the south of France,

his final home. Each is large enough for visitors to walk inside, providing a rare chance to

experience Le Corbusier’s creations firsthand and view his furniture, paintings and

sculptures within that context. The exhibition is further enhanced by the use of dozens of

photographs and videos, some including three-dimensional computer graphic renderings.

The majority of exhibits come from the Fondation Le Corbusier, Paris, and the

Centre Pompidou, however many others will come from lenders elsewhere and in Japan.

Many of the art works come from the Mori Art Collection, which includes a substantial

number of drawings, paintings and tapestries assembled by Mori Art Museum founder Mori

Minoru. The exhibition also benefits from the advice of leading Japanese architects such as

Maki Fumihiko and Ando Tadao. A color, bilingual catalog (Japanese and English)

will be produced to coincide with the exhibition, and a supporting program of tours, talks,

lectures and symposia will also be held.

The 120th anniversary of Le Corbusier’s birth is sure to keep him in the news

worldwide. This exhibition provides a rare opportunity to explore the full gamut of his creative

endeavor.

Le CorbusierModel for Unitéd'habitation, Marseille,FranceFondation Le Corbusier,Paris(C) FLC

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Exhibition SectionsSection 1: Live the Art

Predominantly his earlier paintings, together with a full-size recreation

of the studio where he created them.

Section 2: A Machine for Living

Architecture with dimensional standards derived from human body

proportions, and his Five Points for a New Architecture.

Section 3: The Dream of a Community

Some of Le Corbusier's unbuilt projects, including his Palais des

Soviets and the Mundaneum.

Section 4: Experiments in Art

His later paintings and sculptures, full of color and brimming with

curves and free-flowing brushwork.

Section 5: Living in Harmony

The biggest attraction of the show, a full-size reproduction of a two-

story apartment from his "Unité d'Habitation" in Marseilles.

Section 6: The Radiant City

Le Corbusier's ideas on urban planning: creating modern cities on a

human scale.

Section 7: The Open Hand

Chandigarh in India—Le Corbusier's only fully realized plan for a city,

exhibited in drawings, videos and models.

Section 8: The Miracle of the Space

Light-filled religious architecture, including the chapel at Ronchamp

and his last project, the Chapel at Firminy.

Section 9: Into the Diverse World

Le Corbusier's deep involvement with Japan, and other works around

the world.

Le CorbusierLa Femme et le Moineau 1957

220 x 223cm, tapestry(C) FLC

Le CorbusierTotem

1950(C) FLC

Section 10: Return to the Sea

A reproduction of "le Petite Cabanon," a small wooden hut he built at Cap Martin in the south of

France, looking out over his beloved Mediterranean. (First showing in Japan.)

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Public ProgramsSymposium: Le Corbusier Today: 21st Century Significance and the Call for World

Heritage Listing

*Japanese-English and Japanese sign language simultaneous interpretation

Date: May 26 (Sat) 18:30-21:00

Section 1: The International Call for World Heritage Listing

Speakers: M.J.P. Duport (Director, Fondation Le Corbusier, Paris), Aoyagi Masaki (Director,

The National Museum of Western Art), Kiran Joshi (Professor, Chandigarh College of

Architecture), Yamana Yoshiyuki (Associate Professor, Tokyo University of Science), and

others

Section 2: Le Corbusier in the 21st Century

Speakers: Ito Toyo (Architect), Aoki Jun (Architect), Chiba Manabu (Architect) and Nanjo

Fumio (Director, Mori Art Museum)

Venue: Roppongi Academyhills 49 Tower Hall

Capacity: 500

Admission: Adult 1,500 yen, Students & MAMC member 1,000 yen

*Details and bookings available on website [www.mori.art.museum], Email

[ppevent@mori.art.museum], and Fax [03-6406-9351].

Enquiries: Public Programs, Tel 03-6406-6101

* Other Programs featuring well-known architects Maki Fumihiko, Isozaki Arata, Kurokawa

Kisho, Ando Tadao and Yatsuka Hajime are also being planned. Please enquire for details.

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General InformationOrganizers: Mori Art Museum; Fondation Le Corbusier, Paris; NHK; The Yomiuri

ShimbunExhibition planned by: Mori Art MuseumCorporate Sponsors: TAISEI CORPORATION GALERIE TAISEI, OBAYASHI CORPORATION,

KAJIMA CORPORATION, SHIMIZU CORPORATION,TAKENAKA CORPORATION, Sony Corporation,Lehman Brothers Japan Inc, LOEWE JAPAN, SECOM CO., LTD.,NIKKEN SEKKEI LTD, NIHON SEKKEI, INC., SAINT-GOBAIN,Kenchiku Setsubi Sekkei Kenkyusho,IRIE MIYAKE ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS,KINDEN CORPORATION, SANKI ENGINEERING CO., LTD.

Supported by: Japan Airlines, Cassina S.p.A., Cassina IXC. Ltd.,CAD CENTER CORPORATION, IMAGICA TV Corp., hhstyle.com,Okunomatsu Sake Brewery Co., Ltd., KIRIN BREWERY COMPANY,LIMITED, MANO GLASS CO., LTD., RENTRAK JAPAN CO., LTD.,LONGRIDE, INC.

Advisers: Maki Fumihiko (Architect), Isozaki Arata, (Architect), Kurokawa Kisho(Architect), Ando Tadao (Architect), Michel Richard (Director,Fondation Le Corbusier, Paris) and others

Planning committee: Nanjo Fumio (Director, Mori Art Museum), Yamana Yoshiyuki(Associate Professor, Tokyo University of Science), Sendai Shoichiro(Associate Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, HiroshimaUniversity), Hayashi Misa (Curator, Gallerie Taisei) and others

Additional support by: Echelle-1, Gallerie Taisei,CITE DE L'ARCHITECTURE ET DU PATRIMOINE,FERNANDO MARZÁ, ARQUITECTE, S.L.U.

Mori Art Museum: Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-6150 Japan, Tel: 03-5777-8600 (Hello Dial) www.mori.art.museum

Hours: 10:00 - 22:00 (Tues: 10:00 - 17:00)*Admission until 30 minutes before closing

Admission: Adult: ¥1,500University/Highschool students: ¥1,000Children (4 years to Junior Highschool students): ¥500*Ticket also valid for Tokyo City View observation deck (Tokyo CityView opening hours differ to Mori Art Museum)

Advance ticket sales: Adult: ¥1,200; Student: ¥900; Child: ¥500 – conditions as above.Available from 1 April through Ticket Pia (P-code: 687-308).

Press Photographs: Images are available on our website and on request.Press Contact Details: Mr. Corkill, Ms. Takahashi, Ms. Tamura

Tel: +81-3-6406-6111 Fax: +81-3-6406-9351E-mail: pr@mori.art.museum Website: www.mori.art.museum