

AN ongoing exhibition in Macao traces the evolution of Spanish artist Pablo Picasso’s epoch‑making art, charting his artistic expression and style across different periods and offering context and a panoramic perspective on the transformation of this artistic genius. The “Picasso: Beauty and Drama” exhibition, featuring over 140 original works loaned from Spain’s Museo Casa Natal Picasso and arranged in seven sections, invites visitors into Picasso’s dramatic life and creative world. Through paintings, prints, ceramics, manuscripts, illustrations and more, visitors will experience Picasso’s innovative and often experimental approach to art, as well as his deep affection for his birthplace, Málaga. Visitors will discover a lesser‑known, gentle side of the artist in “Paloma With Doll” (1952), in which Picasso uses a dark backdrop and abstract lines to capture his 5‑year‑old daughter’s tender expression. A warm photograph of Picasso with his daughter is also on display. The recurring “Minotaur” — often read as a projection of Picasso himself — symbolizes the many facets of human nature. One section shows how Picasso reinterpreted mythic themes, such as the Minotaur, through a modern lens and confronted the darker aspects of humanity. Multiple works themed on bullfighting, Spain’s signature spectacle, are displayed in another section, where archival video footage of Macao’s bullfighting festivals from 1966 to 1997 offers an intriguing cross reference with Picasso’s works. A fourth section, featuring décor in red tones, focuses on two women prominent in the artist’s later years. In 1953 Picasso met Jacqueline Roque at the Madoura pottery workshop in France; she became his last muse and eventually his wife, known as a loyal and ardent admirer of his talent. Over the next three decades he created thousands of vases, jars and plates. Visitors will find “Cavalier and Horse” among about 20 ceramic works on display, exploring his often‑overlooked achievements in this medium. Other sections showcase the tools Picasso used to experiment with new media and approaches, and present 10 masterpieces by the artist, including “Figure in Striped Bodice” (1949). Visitors can register on site for docent tours at 11:30 a.m. (Mandarin) and 3 p.m. (Cantonese) daily, with an additional English tour at 3:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Discounts for children (ages 4-12), students (with ID) and seniors (65+), as well as family packages, are available at the ticket counter. Dates: Until Oct. 26 Venue: Shop 220, Level 2, Grand Lisboa Palace Resort Macao (澳门上葡京综合度假村二楼220展厅)(Li Dan) |