Fernand Léger's (1881-1955) original imagery conveys the new, dynamic big city culture that emerged at the beginning of the twentieth century. A key figure in Paris, the metropolis of art, like Pablo Picasso, Léger ranks among the twentieth century’s most significant modern artists.

ARKEN is highlighting Léger's humanist vision and his portrayals of man in modern civilisation. Léger wanted to build a better society and felt morally bound to improve the general conditions of man through his art. Inspired by the stream of new technological advances he often employed a machine aesthetics. Léger drew his subjects from the life around him as evident in his many pictures of the bustling life of the big city, women, men and children picnicking in nature, construction workers, acrobats, circus performers and swimmers.

ARKEN's exhibition will illustrate how Léger depicted man's existential conditions in the modern world of 1905 to 1955, incorporating all of Léger's œuvre. In addition to his paintings, drawings, water colours and tapestries it will include examples of his films, book illustrations, theatre and ballet sets as well as photographs of his murals. Furthermore Léger's thoughts on art theory will be available in the form of excerpts from a number of sources.