- Feeling a tad overdosed on 18th century French portraiture, we stepped outside for a brief breath of fresh air and…
- …walked around to the side entrance for a cup of coffee and admission to the Picasso Mania exhibit. The exhibit was named after a quote by the artist. When asked if he would keep painting much longer, Picasso replied, “Yes. It’s my mania.”
- Our tickets said 13:00 h. (1:00 PM) and if we didn’t show up near that time, we wouldn’t be allowed into the exhibit.
- Picasso Mania featured many of Picasso’s famous works, but the real focus was the far-reaching influence the artist had on everything from painting and sculpture to film and advertising in the modern art world. The works of many contemporary artists and filmmakers, including David Hockney, Jasper Johns, Roy Lichtenstein, Jeff Koons and Jean-Luc Godard, traced the impact of Picasso’s work on modern artists since 1960.
- By far, my favorite part of the exhibit was the very first presentation where 18 frames of well-known modern artists occupied an enormous wall. All of the frames were “live” in that the images were moving. One by one, a frame would turn to color with audio while that featured artist explained his or her take on how Picasso influenced modern art. This was a collective tribute by living artists from different disciplines that was organized for Picasso’s 90th birthday celebration.
- The first room focused on varied depictions of Picasso by more than 50 contemporary artists from all parts of the world.
- Another room acknowledged the influences of the Cubist movement that began in 1908 when Picasso and Georges Braque decided to paint what they perceived rather than what they saw. These work included paintings, drawings stencils and collage.
- It was really fun to wander the rooms and investigate whatever caught my eye.
- One entire room presented Demoiselles from elsewhere, with copies and interpretations of Picasso’s famous painting Les Demoiselles d’Avignon. That painting with its bright colors and jagged shapes marked a turning point in both the artist’s career and modern art.
- Les Demoiselles d’Avignon also incorporated the shapes of African masks and, as the exhibit brochure pointed out, Picasso’s use of these mask forms was met with some ambivalence by African artists because, while he helped raise awareness of African art, he also made it part of Western art history.
- The iconic political painting, Guernica that was first exhibited at an International Exposition in Paris, as an emotional statement against fascism, totalitarianism and war in general, did not go unnoticed with an entire room dedicated to the work and its inspiration.
- For most people, “a Picasso” is a painting from the around 1935 -1940 when his most celebrated works were made in what is called his Cubo-Surrealist style and originals of these works were well represented.
- One of the most famous of these works is Picasso’s representation of the legendary Minotaur.
- We bid farewell to the Grand Palais and hit the streets.
- Looking toward the Arc du Triomphe on the famous Champs Élysées Boulevard.
- Looking toward the Obelisk of Luxor in the Place de la Concorde.
- This monument was erected in 1836, as a gift to King Charles X by the Viceroy of Egypt. It is one of the twin obelisks that marked the entrance to the Temple of Luxor (its double remains seated at the temple entrance). we will walk through the Jardin des Tuileries (Tuileries Garden) toward the Louvre to begin a walking tour of the ancient section of Paris.
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AuthorHi. This is Nancy Camp and I enjoy posting pictures and comments while I travel. Archives
November 2015
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