Strasbourg Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art

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The Musée d'Art Moderne et Contemporain de Strasbourg (MAMCS, Museum of modern and contemporary art) opened at the end of 1998. It is one of the largest of its kind in France ans displays paintings, sculptures, photography, multimedia and design.

It is built on the left bank of the Ill River in front of the department political administrative centre near the barrage Vauban and the old quarter Petite France. The square Hans Arp, where the entrace is has also on its northern part the Ecole nationale d'administration, installed in an ancient convent (architect : Charles Altorffer).

[edit] Building

Conceived by the parisian architect Adrien Fainsilber after a competition based on readiness and openness. A large open internal street allows the access to the various sectors of activities of the museum and the permanent and temporary exhibitions. The old quarter is on view.

The massive concept of the building is criticized among others because only one outside is visible. The eastern flank on the popular quarter of the train station is closed. So there is communication with the powers including the cathedral but not with the regular people.

This situation is the result of a change in the original plan in which the technical services were in the underground. But the installation of a larger parking forced them on the east side.

[edit] Collections

The museum is renowned for its large collection of works by Gustave Doré, Jean Arp and Victor Brauner and for owning the most important French ensemble of contemporary German artists (Jörg Immendorff, Markus Lüpertz, Georg Baselitz). It also features an abundant photographic fonds of pictures taken between the 1820s and yesterday afternoon.

The museum houses a richly furnished library and a panoramic café on its roof.