French avant-garde takes over Zachęta

A peer of Picasso, Léger is renowned as a master of the French avant-garde, and is best known for his abstract art. The exhibition From Painting to Architecture in the Zachęta National Gallery of Art in Warsaw shows different periods in Léger's work, proving he was a versatile artist. However, it is the color that dominates the exhibition. According to Léger, color was an element indispensable for living, just like water or fire.

The exhibition consists of four parts. Part one show the early works of Léger, created before the First World War, in which he served. In the 1920s and 1930s he was fascinated by spectacles, especially ballets, and in 1924 he created Ballet mécanique, an iconic avant-garde film. He also designed costumes for opera and theater performances.

The section entitled "Color and space" presents some of his greatest paintings, in which color takes prominence over the objects depicted. Léger produced many monumental figure and compositions showing scenes of popular life. A large painting featuring construction workers dominates one of the rooms. The fourth part is devoted to Léger's cooperation with architects, showing his drafts for murals, stained-glass windows and mosaics.

The exhibition was prepared by Sylvie Forestier, an expert on Léger's art, and is curated by the director of Zachęta, Agnieszka Morawińska.

Exhibition ends on August 20