Major museums, art institutions to mark 50 years since Picasso's death

Against the backdrop of Picasso's iconic anti-war painting, "Guernica," the culture ministers of France and Spain have gathered in Madrid to kick off a year of commemorative acts to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the death of the Spanish artist who revolutionised the world of art. Photo: AP

From the Prado museum to the Pompidou Centre and New York's Met, the art world has mobilised to stage "an unprecedented" 42 exhibitions marking 50 years since Picasso's death, officials said on Monday.

Prepared over the past 18 months by France and Spain, the "Year Of Picasso" initiative will involve "38 very important art institutions in Europe and the United States," Spanish Culture Minister Miquel Iceta told reporters.

The aim is to "show off all the facets" of Picasso, said French Culture Minister Rima Abdul Malak, describing him as "the most famous and emblematic modern artist".

Picasso was born in the Spanish city of Malaga in 1881 and died in Mougins on the French Riviera in 1973.

A series of talks about him and his work will also be held alongside the exhibition.

The celebrations will begin on Sept 23 at Madrid's Mapfre Foundation with the exhibit Pablo Picasso And The Breaking Down Of Sculpture and will run until April 2024 with the closing exhibit at the Petit Palais in Paris.

Although most events will take place in Spain, France and the United States, others will happen in Germany, Switzerland, Romania and Belgium.

Among the institutions involved in the celebrations are the New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, Madrid's Prado, the Guggenheim in Bilbao, the Pompidou Centre in Paris and the Picasso museums in Barcelona and Paris.

"We want to present Picasso exactly how he was," by highlighting his "artistic legacy" and the "permanence of his work", the Spanish culture minister said. - AFP