English
What would life be like without Picasso? Or as Jonathan Richman would say: Well some people try to pick up girls /And get called assholes / This never happened to Pablo Picasso / He could walk down your street / And girls could not resist his stare and / So Pablo Picasso was never called an asshole. So, the Original Gangster, the Pimp Daddy of last century´s vanguard returns to Barcelona for a powerful new exhibition. Organised by the Picasso Museum and the Amsterdam Van Gogh Museum, the show presents the evolution of the artist, from his arrival in Paris in 1900, where he encountered the colourful art community of the time – up to 1907, when he was crowned the main face of the Paris scene. The word revolution was in the air – and everyone knew its meaning. It was time when Dada reigned supreme, and the young surrealists were having problems – not to mention the almost “romantic” trio Buñuel, Lorca, and Dalí.
If nowadays we don´t really refer to people as “geniuses” in any form of art or format – back then, the word “genius” was frequently used to refer to original practioners of fine art. Of course, Picasso was a genius, the extent of his originality, and the barriers which were broken have placed him at the foundation of modern and contemporary art. However, nothing is coincidental, and it´s evident that the direct contact that Picasso had with the Parisian community would go on to be essential and formative. He was exposed to new pictoral techniques, and new forms of representation.
In this sense, the show not only presents an important section of the Spanish genius´ work – but also the work of artists like Cézanne, Toulouse-Lautrec, Bonnard, Rodin, Steinlen, Gauguin and Van Gogh, and how each artist has been influeced by the others. And if there hadn´t been a Picasso, what would have happened? It´s difficult to say. Much of our perspective on art these days, from architecture to the media, television and publicity, owe a lot to Picasso, and the above mentioned artists. For more info, visit the website http://www.museupicasso.bcn.cat/
SISTER RAY
So why not rent apartments in Barcelona and see up close one of the most important artists of the 20th century. The work of the dynamic artist continues to be a key creative source for all generations.
Translated by: Poppy
