Simon Hantaï was born exactly 100 years ago in 1922, in Budapest. He took a shine to France, and in 1948 moved to Paris, where he befriended André Breton and joined the Surrealists. And yet his ideas diverged from theirs and led him to leave the group in 1955. Hantaï began looking for new inspiration, taking note of the Abstract Expressionists. In the early 60s he developed a technique that involved crumpling, folding, and knotting canvas, painting over it, then flattening it out to reveal a plane of dancing forms. These were called “pliage” paintings and they brought him renown. Hantaï died in 2008. This exhibition, in honor of his centenary, shows his pliage paintings alongside those who influenced him—Henri Matisse, Jackson Pollock. —Elena Clavarino