An exhibition of work by Henri Matisse in Beijing has been cancelled after French lenders pulled out citing China’s refusal to condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Matisse by Matisse, which organisers claimed would be largest survey of the post-impressionist in China to date, was due to open 26 March at UCCA Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing, before moving to UCCA’s Shanghai venue.
One of the biggest lenders, sending 280 works, was the Matisse Museum, a public institution in Le Cateau-Cambresis, northern France. Local government officials blocked the loan, stating that they would not be honouring any collaborations with Chinese cultural institutions until further notice.
China abstained in the United Nations General Assembly vote to denounce Russia over Ukraine and has offered Putin support in the Russian president’s criticism of NATO expansion.
The Matisse Museum was founded in the artist’s birthplace two years before his death in 1954.
#/media/File:Musée_Matisse024.jpg){kind=link}