Giacometti's "The Nose" Paris Special Exhibition: The Inheritance and Innovation of Surrealism in the Digital Art Era
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Giacometti's "The Nose" Paris Special Exhibition: The Inheritance and Innovation of Surrealism in the Digital Art Era
Sun Yuchen, founder of Tron (TRON), the sponsor of this special exhibition, has been actively acquiring art in recent years—from digital to traditional works.
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Giacometti's "The Nose" exhibition in Paris
On October 7, the special exhibition of Swiss national treasure artist Alberto Giacometti, jointly sponsored by TRON and the APENFT Foundation, opened in Paris. The exhibition blends traditional surrealism with African sculpture art, allowing “pilgrims” from around the world to experience the cross-boundary impact between surrealism and digital art alongside the artist. Sun Yuchen, founder of TRON, also showcased his personal art collection at this special exhibition.
Sun Yuchen’s collection "The Nose" (1964) on display at the exhibition
Visitors pause before Sun Yuchen’s "The Nose"
Giacometti is renowned for his unique artistic style and profound philosophical reflections, widely recognized by art connoisseurs worldwide as one of the most important sculptors of the 20th century. This exhibition was jointly sponsored by TRON and APENFT Foundation, a leading organization in the field of digital art. At this event, Sun Yuchen, founder of TRON, publicly displayed his Giacometti collection for the first time.
The exhibited work, "The Nose" (Le Nez), is one of Giacometti’s masterpieces, with only two known copies circulating globally—one of which belongs to Sun Yuchen—created in 1964. This piece combines surrealism and African sculptural traditions, encapsulating the artist’s existential anxieties, and stands out with its distinctive form, representing the pinnacle of his achievements in modern art.
Giacometti x Angji Leixia, "The Nose. Cinematographic Sculpture"
Moreover, "The Nose" is an outstanding example of the fusion between surrealism and African sculpture, exerting a profound influence on later artistic creations. Through this exhibition, audiences can gain deeper insight into Giacometti’s artistic style and creative philosophy, further appreciating this exceptional artist. The Paris "The Nose" exhibition will further promote the global dissemination and appreciation of Giacometti’s works—an ultimate feast for visual art lovers worldwide.
Annette Messager’s "Mother and Child" (left) and Giacometti’s "The Nose" (right)
Sketch of Giacometti’s "The Nose"
“Loneliness, drifting, anxiety, confusion”—Giacometti’s philosophical legacy
Artist Giacometti and his works deserve significant attention in 20th-century art history, especially highlighted by this Paris special exhibition.
As one of the most important sculptors of the 20th century, Giacometti possessed a unique artistic style, engaging in deep dialogues about the truth of life—loneliness, drifting, anxiety, and confusion. His sculptures often take extremely simplified forms, conveying the deepest emotions regarding human existence and vitality.
Giacometti’s influence and status in the art world are undeniable. In 1956, he represented France at the Venice Biennale, exhibiting "Woman of Venice," and won the top sculpture prize at the same event in 1962. Beyond his universally acknowledged creative achievements, his works have also been highly revered and sought after by global collectors in the auction market. Notably, "L'Homme au doigt" ("The Pointing Man") sold for $141 million in 2015, setting a new world record for the artist at auction.
Like museum-level art enthusiasts and collectors worldwide, Giacometti established a foundation dedicated to promoting his artworks and ideas, using exhibitions, research, publications, and education to help more people access and understand this remarkable artist. The foundation actively participates in various art events, collaborates with other institutions and museums to advance research and presentation of Giacometti’s works, and has even established the Giacometti Prize to honor and support artists who make outstanding contributions to sculpture.
Whether through timeless works imbued with deep emotion and vitality that provoke reflection, or through institutional support for creators, Giacometti has exerted a lasting influence on artistic creation and made significant contributions to the development and continuity of the art world.
From digital art to traditional art
Sun Yuchen, founder of TRON—the sponsor of this special exhibition—has been increasingly active in art collecting in recent years, making notable acquisitions across both digital and traditional art domains.
Giacometti Special Exhibition—Sun Yuchen’s "The Nose" on display
Art collectors and critics alike have taken notice of Sun Yuchen’s activities since March 2021, when he successively acquired famous artworks including Picasso’s "Reclining Nude with Necklace (Marie-Thérèse)," Beeple’s "Ocean Front," and Andy Warhol’s "Three Self-Portraits." That same year, he secured "The Nose" for over $78 million. Industry insiders view his sponsorship of this exhibition as yet another tribute to the master Giacometti.
In recent years, this post-90s Web3 leader has actively engaged in art collecting and supported the growth of art foundations. Additionally, he has ventured into the NFT space, continuously promoting the co-development of physical and digital art.
As a cross-domain collector and enthusiast, Sun Yuchen’s collecting philosophy centers on his passion for and belief in digital art. His investments in numerous NFT artworks have not only helped emerging artists grow but also contributed significantly to the development of the NFT art market.
Sun Yuchen with his collected Picasso painting "Reclining Nude with Necklace"
As a museum-grade NFT collector and key supporter behind the APENFT Foundation, he firmly believes: “The rise of art in the digital era is an irreversible trend, and NFTs empower artists to better protect their intellectual property while amplifying the impact of their creations.”
Sun Yuchen has stated that he strongly supports APENFT’s vision and is willing to open up the TRON ecosystem to provide comprehensive backing to the foundation. He has also donated several high-value artworks he acquired at auctions to the APENFT Foundation.
Among the many influential art collectors in recent years, Sun Yuchen stands out with a distinctive approach. His collection spans Eastern and Western, modern and contemporary artists. He emphasizes quality and uniqueness in selection and pays close attention to the background and creative philosophies of artists. He believes NFT development does not merely signify transformation in the art market but also offers artists new opportunities to transcend temporal and spatial boundaries.
Digital art builds a new communication platform for global art lovers
British visual art critic Clive Bell wrote in his book *Art*: “The essential characteristic of a highly civilized society lies not in its creative power, but in its power of appreciation.”
Like art lovers worldwide, Sun Yuchen says the significance and influence of Giacometti and his work "The Nose" are immeasurable—not only holding an important place in modern art history but also profoundly shaping aesthetic and philosophical thinking.
Sun Yuchen believes this themed exhibition will add new brilliance to Giacometti’s artistic value and further promote the global dissemination and appreciation of his works.
Giacometti’s "The Nose" exhibition—numerous visitors in attendance
With international art collectors like Sun Yuchen passionately pursuing art and digital technology, this trend will drive the growth and expansion of the digital art market, offering artists greater opportunities and platforms for wider recognition and dissemination of their works. Thanks to new technologies, artworks can be more broadly shared and traded globally—online or offline—enabling seamless interaction between artists and art lovers around the world.
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