“Picasso and the Allure of the South” features 79 pieces of artwork, half of which have never been seen in the U.S. before.
Courtesy of Sophia George | The Crow’s Nest
By Sophia George
The Dalí Museum in downtown St. Petersburg offers art enthusiasts a rare opportunity to view 79 paintings, drawings and collages created by the esteemed 20th century artist, Pablo Picasso.
The exhibition, “Picasso and the Allure of the South,” is on view at the museum from Jan. 29 through May 22.
According to a press release, the work is on loan from the Musée National Picasso-Paris and the Leonard A. Lauder Cubist Collection in New York City. The exhibition was curated by The Dalí Museum’s chief curator, Dr. William Jeffett.
Approximately half of the selected Picasso pieces have never been seen in the U.S. before, and The Dalí is the only museum worldwide to offer this exhibition.
“‘Picasso and the Allure of the South’ offers a rare opportunity to experience the influence of northern Spain and southern France upon Picasso’s imagination as evidenced in his revolutionary work,” Dr. Hank Hine, executive director of The Dalí, said. “In that zone spanning borders, Picasso drew on the ancient impulses and cultural inspiration of this region — its peoples, poetry, music and energy — to create consummate works of art across genres.”
Picasso was born in Málaga, Spain, in 1881, and spent many years traveling and working throughout northern Spain, the Pyrenees and the French Mediterranean. The landforms, histories and cultures of these regions inspired his artwork.
The exhibit presents an array of portraits, still lifes, figural studies, landscapes and archival photographs dating from 1909 to 1972, all of which reflect his time in Spain and southern France.
The exhibit is divided into four themed sections to create an immersive way for attendees to learn about Picasso’s art and legacy.
“The Birth of Cubism” showcases drawings and collages which portray how northern Spain, and the French Mediterranean inspired the use of Cubism that Picasso is renowned for.
“From Cubism to Realism” explores how Picasso shifted to a playful take on Cubist idioms and shows how aspects of the environment influenced his work.
“Corridas de Sud” (“bullfighting”) is a separate room devoted to Picasso’s childhood fascination with bullfighting, which persisted into adulthood and is evident in some of his pieces. When attendees walk into the round room, applause can be heard, which gives individuals the feeling of being in a real bullfighting ring.
“Surrealism and Beyond” concludes the exhibit, featuring paintings where Picasso was more impulsive with his style and highlights his use of color and light inspired by the south.
The exhibit also offers an exclusive artificial intelligence experience called “YOUR PORTAIT,” where guests can transform their own portraits into Cubist artworks. Guests can sit in front of a computer, which takes their picture, transforms it and offers more information on Cubist art, imagery and color palettes.
The Dalí Museum organized a selection of programs in conjunction with the exhibition –– the “Coffee with a Curator” series, which featured a lecture on Picasso’s life with Curator of Education Peter Tush on Feb. 2 and plans to offer a wine tasting experience focusing on wines from southern France on Feb. 15 as well as a ceramic plate workshop on March 8.
For more information on “Picasso and the Allure of the South” and the public programs, visit https://thedali.org.
