Pablo Picasso is a name that looms large in the art world, and one that cannot be overlooked for those whose seek to understand contemporary art.
Co-organized by M+ and the Musee National Picasso-Paris - which houses the world's largest collection of Picasso's works - the exhibition marks Hong Kong's first large-scale Picasso showcase in over 12 years.
"The entire exhibition project took about three years," Dareau said. "We aimed to present the full trajectory of Picasso's career, as well as finding the right balance for the conversation between Picasso and other artists."
Structured into four thematic sections - The Genius, The Outsider, The Magician, and The Apprentice - the exhibition explores Picasso's evolution through four archetypes that define him as an artist."You can think of the four archetypes as lenses through which we understand artists in our society," said Doryun Chong, artistic director and chief curator at M+ and co-curator of the exhibition. "And perhaps no modern artist can represent these archetypes better than Picasso."
The first section, The Genius, explores Picasso's fascination with the Minotaur, a half-man, half-bull figure from Greek mythology, which is often seen in paintings symbolizing the artist's inner struggles, strength and vulnerability.His Blind Minotaur is exhibited alongside works by Japanese artist Madokoro (Akutagawa) Saori and Cuban artist Wifredo Lam, creating a dialogue of how different artists interpret mythical creatures.
Geniuses often stand apart, challenging conventions; Picasso was no exception. This leads to The Outsider, a section that explores his rebellious stance against artistic traditions."When we think of modern artists, we think of their rebellious roles," said Chong. "For many modern artists, including Picasso, they wanted to have their own place in art history by having a rebellious attitude toward the historical legacy."
As the co-founder of Cubism, Picasso revolutionized the way perspective was understood in modern art. He also constantly reinvented himself, experimenting with new art styles throughout his life.This spirit is further explored in The Magician, which highlights Picasso's later experiments with sculpture and ceramics. "The idea of The Magician is about the artist's ability to turn an ordinary object into something extraordinary," Chong said.
The last section of the exhibition, The Apprentice, explores how Picasso engaged with the great masters who came before him, and how his own work, in turn, influenced contemporary artists for decades.Visitors are also invited to step into the role of the apprentice themselves. An interactive drawing station allows guests to create their own artwork, which is then transformed into an animated video that they can download and share.
The exhibition is on view at West Gallery, M+, until July 13, with tickets priced at HK$240.
