Post Picasso: PARIS
PABLO PICASSO - ARJEN - JULIO ANAYA - ALEXA GUARIGLIA - LEO PARK - ROBERT POKORNY- ALIM SMITH - ADAM ŠTECH
The exhibition "Post Picasso" showcases the work of seven artists from diverse backgrounds, exploring and reinterpreting the artistic legacy of Pablo Picasso. This exhibition not only commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of the death of the Malaga-born artist, but also delves into the concept of the "Post" era, examining the relationship contemporary artists have with the artistic traditions and styles that preceded them. As well as highlighting the importance of questioning and transcending those legacies.
Through the lens of contemporary figurative painting, the exhibition presents a wide range of approaches characterised by appropriation, the exploration of creative individuality, parody, and the recontextualization of Picassos’s artistic endeavours. The exhibition includes a variety of approach es. For instance Czech painter Adam Štech (Podbořany, 1980), deconstructs and reconstructs canonical art, often synthesizing forms through Cubism. Arjen (Netherlands) goes beyond the Cubist principles, creating multiple spatialities and perspectives from a single element in his paintings.
Artists Alim Smith (Delaware, 1990) and Robert Pokorny (California, 1969) further tap into the emotional and psychological facets of Picasso's portraiture. Smith reflects on the human condition within a contemporary context, while Robert Pokorny documents his personal experiences and surroundings, establishing a connection between his art and his own life.
Some directly incorporate Picassian quotations into their work. Such as Leo Park (Stockholm, 1980), whose dynamic compositions add contemporary twists to Picasso's original which reflect on the movement and stillness of the human figure. Or Julio Anaya (Málaga, 1987), who re-humanizes the idea of the artwork as a precious object confined to a museum by reclaiming everyday materials such as cardboard.
Lastly, Alexa Guariglia (New York, 1990), who through subtle nods in her works, vindicates the role of the female figure with a diaphanous lyricism by incorporating the pictorial techniques of Cubism and Surrealism as a vehicle through which she can achieve artistic honesty in her work.
