With more than 160 pieces this was the first major exhibition in Scandinavia to focus on a late, fortunate and highly imaginative part of Picasso's work. One of the top exhibitions to see for 2018, according to the New York Times, this presentation of Picasso's original ceramics marked the beginning of Louisiana's 60th anniversary year.
In the summer of 1946 Picasso sojourns at Golfe-Juan in the south of France and attends a ceramics exhibition in Vallauris, an area well known for its many ceramic workshops. This experience is a turning-point for Picasso, who throughout his life sought new artistic challenges in all possible kinds of materials.
Picasso immediately starts experimenting with ceramic materials, oxides and glazes, and the ceramic processes and techniques – especially the unpredictable elements in the actual firing process, mainly because the colours are so difficult to control – clearly presents him with a rich and interesting new challenge.
In 1948 Picasso forms a steady engagement with the Madoura workshop and decideds to move permanently to the south of France. There – alongside his paintings, drawings, sculptures and graphic works – he produces about 4000 ceramic objects. Some involve the painting and reworking of plates, jugs and dishes that have already gone into production at the Madoura pottery, others are more sculptural figures – animals, fauns and female figures that grow out of Picasso’s imagination as the wet clay takes form.
INFLUENCES
Picasso was born and raised in Malaga and throughout his life felt strongly connected to the traditions and myths of Mediterranean culture and the mythology and art of the ancient world. This is also reflected in his ceramics, which abound with fish and sea animals, bullfighters and mythological figures such as fauns and centaurs.
LOUISIANA AND PICASSO
Over the years Louisiana has presented several exhibitions focusing on special periods or themes in his oeuvre. This has been made possible due to an excellent collaboration with the Picasso family, and it is with strong support from the family as well as the Picasso museums in Paris, Antibes and Barcelona that it has been possible to gather and assemble a broad, thematic selection of the artist’s ceramic production from the years 1947-1964.
Past exhibitions at Louisiana: Louisiana On Paper; Picasso before Picasso in 2016, Picasso: Peace and Freedom in 2011, Picasso and the Mediterranean in 1996-97, Picasso 1960-1973 in 1988-89, Picasso in 1981 og Picasso in 1968.
anmeldelser
POLITIKEN
“Da Picasso blev forelsket i keramikken, forvandlede han ordinære fade, skåle og tallerkener til kunst i verdensklasse… Picasso keramik på Louisiana er mesterligt… Middelhavsområdets luftige stemning hersker også på udstillingen. Der er altid så meget luft omkring de enkelte objekter, at det virker, som om de kan både ånde og leve.”
KRISTELIGT DAGBLAD
“Det er en skulpturel udstilling, lige så meget som det er en malerisk udstilling, og alt rummes i denne ædle gamle pottemager-tradition, tilsat Picassos insisterende kunstneriske energi. Han er en flamme, et bål, en eksplosion af kraft… Det er en pragtudstilling, Louisiana viser.”
BØRSEN
“Magisk keramik – en fremragende, sanselig udstilling af en af verdenshistoriens allerstørste billedkunstnere… En vidunderlig oplevelse, da hvert værk bliver præsenteret i fuld spot, så hver en detalje kan nydes… En pragtudstilling fuld af materialekærlighed, sanselig formgivning, malerisk frodighed og generøsitet.”
BERLINGSKE
“Måske er Picassos keramik så fremragende, fordi den er præcis og selvsikker. Fabulerende, men samtidig simpel; enkel grænsende til det banale. Måske er det noget så ligetil og alligevel så undertiden vanskeligt opnåeligt som basal livsglæde, der er på spil i genstandenes overflader?”
JYLLANDS-POSTEN
“Picasso-magi. Det er simpelthen mageløst, fuld af liv, på én gang præcist og fabulerende, koncentreret og legende. En skaberkraft af vulkanske dimensioner. Louisianas opsætning er designmæssigt løst til ug – diskret, dynamisk, elegant og afstemt.”
WEEKENDAVISEN
“Trænger man til at løfte sin ånd og mærke civilisationens lys på sig, bør man afgjort drage på pilgrimsfærd til Humlebæk.”
