Famous for his paintings, sculptures, prints and drawings, many of Edgar Degas’ sculptures depict urban modern life. During his lifetime, only one sculpture, the Little Fourteen Year Old Dancer, (made of clay and wax) was shown to the public. After the negative critical reactions, Degas decided not to show his sculptures in public, and for the rest of his life, they remained wrapped in mystery.
This is an Edgar Degas we had not known, and for the first time our public has the chance to see his 74 posthumous bronze sculptures in a special exhibition in MGM Art Space in Macau. The exhibition Figures in Motion brings us to Degas’ inner and mysterious world, wandering behind the curtains or on stage at the Opera House in Paris, walking along horse races or peeking into boudoirs, these precious moments that he captured are with us forever.
Now you have the opportunity to unveil these aesthetic secrets at the first ever Degas’ sculptures exhibition – Edgar Degas: Figures in Motion held by Le French May in Macau. The exhibition is presenting seventy-four of Degas’ sculptures cast in bronze, which were originally made from wax, clay and plaster. After the artist’s death, Albert Bartholomé cast them in metal to display the most important sculptural heritage of the creator.
“Figures in Motion” is featuring the importance of the movement and human figure, indicating how they are always the central objects of Degas’ art. Fascinated by the effect of indoor lighting and human figures, he always tried to capture extraordinary postures from unique angles under light and shade. This posthumous bronze statue collection has been exhibited at the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg for a posthumous bronze exhibition linked with an international colloquium “Posthumous Bronze in Law and Art History”.
When: 29 April – 20 November
Opening Hours: Tues to Sunday: 12pm – 9pm; closed on Mondays (except public holidays)
Where: MGM Art Space, MGM Macau
How much: Free admission
