Château de Montsoreau-Museum of Contemporary Art facts for kids
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View from the Loire of the Château de Montsoreau-Museum of Contemporary Art
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| Established | 25 June 2015 |
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| Location | Montsoreau, France |
| Type | Contemporary art museum |
| Collections | Art & Language |
| Collection size | 1,000 |
| Visitors | 35,000 (2016) |
| Founder | Philippe Méaille |
The Château de Montsoreau-Museum of Contemporary Art is a special art museum located in Montsoreau, France. It's a private museum, but it's open for everyone to visit. The museum first opened its doors on April 8, 2016.
Inside, you'll find a permanent collection of artworks by a group of artists called Art & Language. These artworks are part of Philippe Méaille's collection, who is the founder of the museum.
Contents
History of the Museum
Philippe Méaille, who lives in the Anjou region of France, had an idea. He wanted to create a museum for contemporary art in Anjou. He worked with Christian Gillet, who was in charge of the Maine-et-Loire area.
They decided the best place for the museum would be the historic château de Montsoreau. This castle was owned by the local government. On June 19, 2015, Christian Gillet agreed to let Méaille use the castle for 25 years.
Making the Museum Ready
During the work to get the museum ready, something cool was found! Builders discovered a chimney that dates back to around 1450. Experts are now studying this old chimney to restore it.
A library about art history, modern art, and applied arts opened in August 2016. This is a great place to learn more. The museum's port also reopened in May 2017. This means visitors can now arrive at the museum by boat, which is a unique way to get there!
The Castle's Amazing Architecture
The castle of Montsoreau has been important for over a thousand years. It's known as the "gate of Anjou." It's also the only castle along the Loire River that is a museum for contemporary art.
The castle was built by Jean II of Chambes between 1443 and 1453. He was an important person who helped bring the Italian Renaissance style to France. The Château de Montsoreau was built right next to the Loire River, much like the beautiful Venetian palaces built around the same time.
The Art Collection
The museum's main collection is from Philippe Méaille. It is shown on the first two floors of the museum. This collection is special because it only features works by the artist group Art & Language.
Art & Language started in 1968. They got their name from their own newspaper, called Art-Language. The group includes artists from the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia. Even today, the group is still active, with Michael Baldwin and Mel Ramsden leading it.
Many artists have been part of or worked with Art & Language since 1965. Some of them include Joseph Kosuth, Sol LeWitt, and Kathryn Bigelow. The collection has many different types of art, like paintings, sculptures, drawings, and videos. It also includes manuscripts and installations.
Gallery
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Art & Language: Art & Language: Art-Language, Vol.3 Nr.1, 1974.
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Art & Language: Mirror Piece, 1965.
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Art & Language (Michael Baldwin): Air-Conditioning Show, 1966-67.
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Art & Language (Mel Ramsden), Secret Painting, 1967.
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Art & Language: Art-Language Vol.5 Nr.1, 1982.
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Art & Language: Art-Language The Journal of Conceptual Art, Vol.1 Nr.1, 1969.
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Special Exhibitions
The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions that change over time. Here are some of the past exhibitions:
- 2016: Agnès Thurnauer, a History of Painting.
- 2017: Ettore Sottsass, Designer of the World.
- 2018: Art & Language, Reality (Dark) Fragments (Light).
- 2018: 1968: Sparta Dreaming Athens, a group show with artists like Tony Smith and Claes Oldenburg.
- 2019: Mappa Mundi.
- 2019: Roman Signer.
- 2019: Charlotte Moorman. Think Crazy.
Events at the Museum
François Morellet Prize
The museum works with the National days of Books and Wine in Saumur. Together, they give out the François Morellet prize to an art writer.
- 2016: Catherine Millet, an art critic.
- 2017: Michel Onfray, a philosopher.
- 2018: Eric de Chassey, director of the National Institute of Art History.
- 2019: Bernar Venet, an artist.
- 2020: Kenneth Goldsmith.
- 2021: Orlan.
- 2022: Bernard Marcadé.
Miriam Rothschild Gardens
In 2017, the castle's gardens were changed into "wild gardens." These gardens cover more than one hectare (about 2.5 acres). They are designed to show freedom and help biodiversity thrive.
Miriam Rothschild (1908–2005) was a scientist who created these "natural" gardens. A wild garden helps native plants grow and protects the animals living nearby. This creates a good balance between plants and animals.
Publications
The museum also publishes books and other materials. Here are some examples:
- 2016: Rod Mengham, Un tour chez Agnès Thurnauer.
- 2016: Art & Language, Entretien avec Victorine Meurend.
- 2017: Art & Language, Affiche: Almost a Home for Homeless Stuff.
- 2017: Fabien Vallos, Philippe Méaille, Antonia Birnbaum, Fabrice Hergott, Chloé Maillet, Louise Hervé, Antoine Dufeu, A Constructed World, Protest 1517-2017. ISBN: 978-2-9557917-0-7
- 2018: Art & Language, Matthew Jesse Jackson, Art & Language Reality (Dark) Fragments (Light).ISBN: 978-2-9557917-2-1
See also
