Guided tour of the exhibition: Kiki de Montparnasse, model, singer, painter and writer
Crowned «Queen of Montparnasse» at the age of 28, Kiki de Montparnasse, née Alice Prin (1901-1953), remains unknown despite her memories and books telling her life in photographs or comics. In the preface to the aforementioned memoirs, the American writer Ernest Hemingway does not hesitate to support: And then, it was wonderful, after the work, to see Kiki. Having initially received a pretty face, she had made it a masterpiece. She certainly dominated that Montparnasse era better than Queen Victoria ever dominated hers.” Boy, that’s a big compliment! It is true that dreamed model of the painters Foujita or Moïse Kisling and the photographer Man Ray, Kiki inspired the sculptors Pablo Gargallo or Alexander Calder. She herself prides herself on painting scenes that are ultimately wiser than the repertoire of her songs for sailors. This conference, richly illustrated with rare documents, will strive to restore the thousand lights of this meteoric comet…