London and New York are in sync this spring, with two concurrent shows featuring the grand-daddy of twentieth century art who is, of course, Picasso. Both shows shed new light on his seemingly limitless output and imagination and offer the chance to reconsider just how great art can be.
'Pablo Picasso: Mosqueteros' at the Gagosian Gallery in New York (bottom image) shows nearly 100 works from the sixties and seventies, a period when the received wisdom has Picasso in decline and losing touch with his considerable powers. This show blows the perceived wisdom out of the water and shows that the works from his later decades are as fertile and thought-provoking as his earlier triumphs, as Picasso takes inspiration from classical art themes to create something entirely new. Getting to the very heart of art and humanity, the drawings and paintings on show are a hit of pure adrenaline for jaded eyes and a ravishing wake up call to modern art.
'Challenging the Past' at the National Gallery in London (top image) also looks at one of the motifs of the Gagosian show - the relationship between classical art and the work of Picasso - developing this idea into a blockbuster exhibition of 60 works by Picasso, many of which relate to works in the National Gallery permanent collection by artists such as Rembrandt, Goya and Cezanne. Organised by classical themes of European painting - still life, self portraits, the female nude, etc. - the exhibiton considers the explicit and implicit ways that Picasso maintained a dialogue with the Old Masters of the past as he became the master of his time.
'Pablo Picasso: Mosqueteros' runs until June 6th at the Gagosian Gallery, 522 West 21st St, New York.
'Challenging the Past' runs until June 7th at the National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London.
In a country well governed poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed wealth is something to be ashamed of.
Posted by: Mia Amateur | April 30, 2011 at 12:48