Musée International des Arts Modestes (MIAM)

Located in a former wine warehouse refurbished by architect Patrick Bouchain, the Musée international des arts modestes (MIAM) was founded in 2000 by Hervé Di Rosa and Bernard Belluc. Aiming at dissolving the boundaries between high and popular culture, it showcases unprecedented, little-institutionalised, and cross-disciplinary artistic correspondences.

Located in a former wine warehouse refurbished by architect Patrick Bouchain, the Musée international des arts modestes (MIAM) was founded in 2000 by Hervé Di Rosa and Bernard Belluc. Aiming at dissolving the boundaries between high and popular culture, it showcases unprecedented, little-institutionalised, and cross-disciplinary artistic correspondences.

Programme

Photo : Pierre Schwartz et Jolan
Photo : Pierre Schwartz et Jolan

FREE ! Modest Art Collectors

The exhibition presents two private collections, shown to the public for the first time.

The FB/DL collection: from the Figuration Libre movement, including a major group of works by Hervé Di Rosa, unfolds a history of French painting since the 80s: recognized, emerging, little-known and singular artists, with most of whom the collectors have a personal relationship. The FB/DL collection also welcomes extra-European expressions, in particular contemporary African art, and is displayed in the collectors' apartment amidst an environment of popular objects.

The MB/JB collection: constructed over the last fifty years, it is structured around two artists on the bangs of surrealism, Félix Labisse and Lucien Coutaud, and an exceptional collection of Brazilian magic figures. Rare books, unusual objects, theatrical furniture and works by contemporary artists complete this singular collection, which occupies the entire space of a large apartment. Between Eros and Thanatos, the MB/JB Collection plunges us into a strange atmosphere where figurative painting, bordering on surrealism, rubs shoulders with black magic.

Stephen Pearson, Wings of Love, 1972 © & photo : Rosenstiels publishing
Stephen Pearson, Wings of Love, 1972 © & photo : Rosenstiels publishing
Vera Pegrum, Green Lady, ca 1950. © & photo : Stuart Webb
Vera Pegrum, Green Lady, ca 1950. © & photo : Stuart Webb

BEAUBADUGLY - The other history of painting

Who hasn't gazed with admiration or tenderness at a framed image of a crying child, a red-cheeked Poulbot or a Bernard Buffet clown? For many, that's what painting is all about. Who are these painters who had a moment of popular glory before falling into oblivion, these artists of undiminished success yet relegated to the shadows of history?

This exhibition will unabashedly show the original paintings of these artists on the fringes of the imagination and common taste, who sometimes sold thousands of reproductions of their works in supermarkets and whose posters are familiar to us. For many, this will be their first exhibition in France. This panorama of commercial, media and popular painting, from Vladimir Tretchikoff to Bernard Buffet, will be staged by Hervé Di Rosa and Jean-Baptiste Carobolante, and will look at the different trajectories taken by this pictorial field in the 20th century.

Access

Musée International des Arts Modestes (MIAM)
23, quai Maréchal-de-Lattre-de-Tassigny
34200 Sète
+33 (0)4 99 04 76 44
miam.org

Tuesday to Sunday: 10am – 6pm.

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CULTURE & HERITAGE

Musée Paul-Valéry
Miam : Musée International des Arts Modestes
MACO, le Musée à Ciel Ouvert : art walks through the city, marked by street art works.
MID, Maison de l’Image Documentaire

WALKS

• Le Mont Saint-Clair : an outstanding panoramic view of the Mediterranean and the Bassin de Thau.
La Pointe Courte : typical alleys convey the Sète’s culture.
The marine cemetery

FESTIVALS

Fiest’A Sète (late July, early August)
Worldwide festival (early July)
K-Live festival (early June)
La fête de la Saint-Louis (end of August)

PLACES TO STAY

L’Orque Bleue Hotel : boutique hotel on the banks of the Royal Canal in the heart of Sète.

PLACES TO EAT

Le Paris-Méditerranée : a gourmet and inventive cuisine, evenings only.
Midi Là-Haut : restaurant and café of the Museum Paul Valéry with sea view.
Chez Lanchois : delicious fusion cuisine in a wonderful setting (access through an industrial area).
Là-Haut : a snack where we reportedly eat the best tiellas.
Chez Nossa : deluxe pizzas and natural wines.
Chez Alphonse et Fils : enjoy the black sesame ice cream and the view…