Yves Klein Intime

Exhibition at the Hôtel de Caumont - Centre d'art, Aix-en-Provence, 28 October 2022 - 26 March 2023

Famous for his monochromes and for the famous ultramarine blue, IKB, which he patented, Yves Klein (1928-1962) is one of the protagonists of the art of the second half of the 20th century. The artist transformed his models into Living Brushes, created Fire Paintings, imagined immaterial works and participated in his own way in the conquest of space. He also wrote extensively and his work is documented in photographs, films and sound recordings.

This exhibition catalogue analyses the links between the artist's life and his creations through the prism of his family and entourage - relatives, painters, models and collaborators, a circle of friends - with whom he exchanged and created, shedding light on his vision of art, his sense of humour, his relationship with religion and spirituality, and his ultimate aspiration towards the 'immaterial'.

The book includes some of Klein's most iconic works - including the Monochromes and Sponge Sculptures, the golden Monogolds, the Anthropometries and the Fire Paintings - as well as other lesser-known creations, previously unpublished archives and unique objects from his studio collection, The exhibition also includes some works by other artists and collaborative projects, as a testimony to the friendship and creative complicity Klein enjoyed with colleagues and friends such as Arman, Christo, Martial Raysse and Jean Tinguely.