It must have been tempting to call this exhibition. The Australian public responds well to healthy competition, as demonstrated by the perennial mania for art prizes. Instead, the National Gallery of Australia settled on the more dignifiedThe two artists had a complex relationship. They were friends but also rivals who spurred each other on to new discoveries and innovations.
, to travel to Canberra. Kerry Stokes beats all the local lenders, having contributed three works by Picasso and one by Matisse.Credit:The most impressive loans have been drawn from international museums such as Paris' Musee Nationale Picasso, Tate Modern, New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art and other venues in the United States, Europe and Brazil. Some of these pieces are new to Australia, some have been seen before.
The fourth work from the Musée National Picasso, possibly the greatest Matisse painting in the show, is. One can imagine even Picasso being dazzled by this picture which takes amazing liberties with colour and form.Succession Picasso Director Nick Mitzevich has a reputation as a skilful hanger of exhibitions and this is an area whereexcels. The walls have been painted in pale, unusual shades of pink and blue. It’s unorthodox but works brilliantly. Curator Jane Kinsman, who is retiring after this exhibition, has arranged images in a way that teases out many unexpected relationships., intelligent exhibition design can compensate for a shortage of indubitable masterpieces.
Ultimately this is one art event in which content is not make-or-break. For the NGA, the appeal of this exhibition will be predicated on two magic words: “Matisse” and “Picasso”.
NatGalleryAus The modern era started in the Renaissance ...