The Centre Pompidou-Metz opens a group exhibition titled "Copyists," in which 100 contemporary artists were invited to copy a work of their choice from the Louvre and create a new piece based on that copy. Curated by Chiara Parisi and Donatien Grau, the show features artists such as Rita Ackermann, Danh Võ, Glenn Ligon, and Mohamed Bourouissa, who responded with diverse interpretations—from traditional painted copies to digital works and sculptural altars. The exhibition highlights the tension between reverence for Old Masters and the drive for artistic innovation.
This exhibition matters because it reexamines the centuries-old practice of copying as a vital creative act, challenging the notion that copying is merely derivative. By inviting a broad range of contemporary voices to engage with the Louvre's collection, the show explores how artists today negotiate tradition and originality, and what it means to "copy" in the 21st century. It also underscores the enduring influence of the Louvre as a source of artistic dialogue across generations.