President of the Louvre visited PinchukArtCentre

During his visit to Kiev, Henrі Loyrette, the President of the Louvre Museum (Henri Loyrette, président directeur général du Musée du Louvre), visited the PinchukArtCentre. After getting acquainted with the current exhibition "An Instinctive Eye: A Selection of Contemporary Photographs from the Sir Elton John Collection" a working meeting took place, in which participated Thomas Eymond-Laritaz, President of the Victor Pinchuk Foundation, Claire Staebler, art-director of the PinchukArtCentre and Aicha Kherroubi , cultural attache of the embassy of France in Ukraine. The issues of further collaboration, and current state of contemporary art in Ukraine were discussed at the meeting.

The President of the greatest museum of France became acquainted with the collection of the center. The art pieces of contemporary Ukrainian artists attracted his special interest. He noted that the unique collection of the Louvre including the art pieces of early royal collection is constantly enlarged by new acquisitions of 21st century.

"This is a great honor for us to meet in the centre such respected representatives of the art world, - said Claire Staebler, art director of the PinchukArtCentre, - As the matter of fact, today the Louvre is one of the most innovative museums of the world, which constantly enlarges the programs of exhibitions, it plans to open its branches in other countries. Therefore, it is complicated to overestimate the significance of this meeting, exchange of experience and discussions for the development and modernization of artistic scene in Ukraine. At the same time, the PinchukArtCentre works at solution of another problem - to represent and to promote Ukraine as one of the key centers of contemporary art. The visits of such special guests as Henri Loyrette or one of most influential gallerist of the world Jay Jopling who in June visited the opening of the exhibition of photographs from the collection Sir Elton John - these are the events, which undoubtedly attract attention to the country from the part of world art community. They advance that day, when art events in Kiev will be awaited with the same impatience as in London or Paris".

Leaving the center, Henry Loyrette noted that "the memories about the first visit to PinchukArtCentre inspire him to new visits and further collaboration".

Henry Loyrette (Henry Loyrette, président directeur général du musée du Louvre) is the President of the Louvre Museum from 2001. Its exhibition activity the Louvre museum started in 1793. The collection of the Louvre museum includes both art pieces of early royal collection and last acquisitions of the artists of 21st century. On the average, about 6 million visitors per year attend the museum.

The PinchukArtCentre, largest centre for contemporary art in Ukraine and one of the largest ones in the Eastern Europe. PinchukArtCentre is one of the projects of Victor Pinchuk Foundation in a cultural field. One of the main goals of PinchukArtCentre activity is modernization of the existing Ukrainian art area, development of contemporary art and presentation of foreign and Ukrainian artists. The PinchukArtCentre has become a place for regular exhibitions, work shops and lectures. In 2007 PinchukArtCentre officially represents Ukraine in 52nd Venetian Biennale. From the moment of the opening in September 2006, the PinchukArtCentre organized four exhibitions, which were visited by more than 140 000 people.