Double the chance to explore Picasso works in Hong Kong

One of the most recognisable artists of all time, Pablo Picasso created work spanning decades and disciplines, and exploring a vast range of genres and techniques. Famous for his cubist surrealist sketches and works on canvas, the multidisciplinary artist was also a prolific sculptor and potter.

The two exhibitions – one at Hong Kong’s M+ museum and the other at Phillips auction house – look at the artist’s work and legacy from distinctly different perspectives. In total, more than 90 works will be made available to the public as part of these two shows.

Musée Picasso Paris, home to the world’s most extensive collection of the artist’s work, has loaned more than 60 pieces to M+. The exhibition, “Picasso for Asia: A Conversation”, is part of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Series. It is co-presented with the French May Arts Festival and will be featured as that event’s opening programme.

Exhibited alongside these Picasso masterpieces are 130 works from the M+ collection by 30 contemporary Asian-diasporic artists. In this way, the show seeks to explore Picasso’s legacy, while showcasing an unprecedented cross-cultural and intergenerational dialogue between artists.

Exploring the power of art from the perspectives of a genius, an outsider, a magician and an apprentice, the exhibition is divided into four archetypes reflecting the different stages that defined Picasso’s creative life.

From the late 1940s to his death in 1973, for instance, Picasso developed a childlike approach that differed from the darker imagery of his earlier works. Energetic strokes dominated his canvases during this period, and this same yearning for innocence is reflected in the works of featured Japanese artist Keiichi Tanaami, who drew inspiration from cartoon characters like Mickey Mouse, Astro Boy and Ultraman during the height of Covid. These works are shown in dialogue to reflect the master’s far-reaching influence on his contemporaries.