Early Picasso Art exhibition in Beijing

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Ullens Center for Contemporary Art or UCCA Beijing is holding the largest showcase of Pablo Picasso’s early works in China from June to September 2019. A feast for art fans this exhibition is located in the famous Beijing Art District 798 a very popular spot and a “must visit” places for visitors. The Art District 798 is a vast expanse of galleries exhibiting contemporary and folk art by popular artists from all over China in various mediums. 

This exciting exhibition “Picasso - Birth of a Genius” includes 103 works from the Musee National Picasso - Paris collection that trace the artist's development from childhood to middle age. According to Emilia Philippot, exhibition curator and head of collections at the Paris museum, the 34 paintings, 14 sculptures and 55 works on paper at the exhibition make up the largest and most significant showcase of the artist's work ever in China. 

"The exhibition marks the realization of a dream we have held since our opening in 2007," said Philip Tinari, director of the UCCA at the opening of the exhibition on 14^th June. 

"To present not only recent developments in contemporary art but to examine the underpinnings of contemporary art by showing modern masters. The story of Picasso is relevant to our audience in China, as individuals here continue to answer the challenges of creativity, originality and innovation."  According to the curator, the selection of works created between 1893 and 1921 tells the story of the creative formation and evolution of Picasso. 

"We can see how Picasso came to be called a genius," said Laurent Le Bon, the president of the Musee National Picasso - Paris. 

Six sections at the exhibition explore the artist's career from young Picasso's artistic explorations and numerous changes to the primitivist explorations which ultimately led to the multiple phases of Cubism. 

Starting with The First Picasso, which delves into the artist's creation of works like Man in a Cap (1895) and Study of a Torso, After a Plaster Cast (1893-94), the exhibition moves in its section through Picasso's Blue and Rose periods, during which he developed a truly original style in works like The Jester (1905) and Two Brothers (1906). The third section, Picasso the Exorcist, examines his revolutionary experiments with form and space in works like Self-portrait (1906) and preparation for his masterpiece, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon (1907), while Picasso the Cubist covers the period when he approached a system of signs in works such as Man with a Mandolin (1911) and Man with Fireplace (1916). Fifth comes Picasso the Chameleon, which follows his turn toward classical revivalism, when he created works such as The Lovers (1919) and Studies (1920), as well as stage design and costumes for the Ballets Russes' production of Le Tricorne (1919). The final section includes paintings and sculptures done between 1927 and 1972, giving a sense of how Picasso's creative works developed in the latter part of his life. 

Bringing these valuable artworks from France to China was no easy task. According to a report by AFP, the insurers for the works, which are valued at more than 800 million euros ($900 million), insisted that the pieces travel on seven separate planes to prevent a total loss in case something went wrong. 

In addition to the exhibition, the UCCA is also hosting public programs including panel discussions and film screenings titled Adventures with Picasso. 

Book a tour and catch this once in a lifetime’s Picasso Art Event when in Beijing as the exhibition is set to run until 01 September 2019!