Exhibition 2021

PICASSO IN GMÜND

Picasso in the artists' town of Gmünd! The time has finally come!
From 1 May to 26 September 2021, the Gmünd Cultural Initiative will be showing a representative selection of lithographs, etchings and coloured linocuts by Pablo Picasso, the artist, who shaped the art of the 20th century. The exhibition in Gmünd is intended to make people aware of the artistic significance of the artist’s graphic works in his œuvre.

After the resounding success of the previous exhibitions in the Stadtturm, DÜRER IN GMÜND (2015), GOYA IN GMÜND (2016), JOAN MIRÓ | The Poetry of Colour (2017), HENRI MATISSE | The Prints and Drawings (2018), WILLIAM TURNER | The Artist on the Move (2019) as well as, in the summer of 2020, the EDWARD QUINN photo exhibition in preparation of Picasso, the time has now come:

In cooperation with two major European Picasso print collections, the German Sammlung Boisserée in Cologne and the Frederick Mulder Ltd. in London, it is now possible to present in Gmünd PABLO PICASSO, arguably the most famous artist of the 20th century, through a wonderful selection of lithographs, aquatints, etchings and linocuts from his last four creative decades!

The Gmünd exhibition features works by Picasso that are normally only on display in large museums and are difficult to present in a permanent display due to their delicate nature. Just in time for the 30th anniversary of the cultural initiative and thus of the artists' city of Gmünd, the summer of 2021 brings you the unique opportunity to discover and understand in Gmünd the creative versatility of the „artist of the century“.

Relishing experimentation, Picasso adopted a wide variety of printmaking techniques, tried out and tackeled entirely new mixed forms with unconventional approaches. He worked intensively for a decade and a half in linocut, and took this medium to a new, unprecedented high point: what had previously been regarded as a craft and folk art, Picasso elevated to the rank of art. His linocuts seem like perfect painting and are among the artist's most important works. As a particularly valuable didactic enrichment, a selection of linocuts is shown in the Stadtturmgalerie in progressive states that make the process of creating them more comprehensible.

Thematically, the show in Gmünd presents everything that epitomises Picasso: part of the exhibition is devoted to a selection of impressions from the famous „Suite Vollard“, an early series of 100 etchings that Picasso created - like a diary - between 1930 and 1937. As Picasso's artistic work was always often connected to his private life, the „Suite Vollard“ depicts some of his personal experiences and struggles: the eternal battle of the sexes, the relationship between artist and model, as well as mythological themes that preoccupied Picasso throughout his life. Another focus of the Gmünd exhibition is devoted to Picasso and his portraits of women; Picasso

captured each of his many partners in life in numerous prints.

And then, of course, there is bullfighting and the bull as a symbol

of unbridled power and masculinity: this powerful animal appears

in countless works as Picasso's quasi alter ego. An impressive selection of etchings and coloured linocuts on this subject can be seen in the Stadtturmgalerie. Picasso once said, „Art washes the dust of everyday life from the soul.“ May this liberating effect be felt especially in 2021 in the artists' city of Gmünd!

Extensive accompanying programme & catalogue

An extensive programme of lectures, literature and film matinees will be run alongside the exhibition. A catalogue will be published to accompany the exhibition.

Art education programme

For kindergartens and schools, a specially tailored creative programme will be offered for the Picasso exhibition, including the use of the new red Picasso Museum Suitcase.

Picasso for children - accompanying booklet

A completely new approach will be taken with the new Picasso for Children - Accompanying Booklet, a booklet designed by well-known Austrian artist Moussa Kone especially for the Gmünd exhibition, which will accompany all children on an entertaining and interactive journey through the show in the Stadtturmgalerie.

Curators

The exhibition is curated by MMag. Julia Schuster, STRABAG Kunstforum, Vienna, and Dr. Erika Schuster, Kulturinitiative Gmünd. They are supported by Anne-Françoise Gavanon, Director of the Frederick Mulder Ltd., London, and Mag. Thomas Weber, Galerie Boisserée, Köln