The exhibition “Matisse: Symphony of Colors” at the Phoenix des Lumières in Dortmund turns color into an experience. Spanning an area of 2,200 square meters, massive projections transform the French artist’s works into an immersive visual world that stretches across the walls and floor of the former gas blower hall. Blue, yellow, red, green, pink, and mauve represent different phases of his career. Particularly impressive are the famous “Blue Nudes” from 1952: The static gouache prints dissolve in the projection and reassemble into moving compositions. Colors flow into one another, shapes shift their positions, and individual motifs seem to move through the space.
The exhibition traces his journey from Fauvism—a movement he helped shape—through his travels and the discovery of Mediterranean light, all the way to his late works. It becomes clear how color increasingly became an independent means of expression for him. A narrator’s voice accompanies the tour with the artist’s reflections on the individual colors. A finely tuned soundtrack provides atmospheric accompaniment to the shifting visual worlds.
In addition, visitors can view the approximately 15-minute short show “Frida Kahlo: Out of Passion.” Self-portraits as well as plant and nature motifs offer insight into the work of the Mexican artist, whose pieces are shaped by themes such as pain, identity, and freedom.
