Thursday 12 January 2012

Ruiz vs Picasso - Would Pablo still rock?


Having been critical and disappointed by my first pass through the event that is Picasso, I took myself for a second appreciative meander this past weekend. The gallery was open as a venue for the Sydney Festival First Night, and this seemed a perfect venue for a less hectic (read noisy) Involvement. However, as they say, the house was packed to the rafters.

At the bewitching hour of 3pm, I bowled in and wandered through the ten rooms in a plan of my whim, sans headphones, sans cattledog. Well, yes, I enjoyed it more the second time - but I was FAMILIAR with the works then, wasn't I. Familiar with the order, with the breadth. The really good aspect, that comes through so very strongly, is how Picasso developed from a faithful representative drawer, to the pin-up boy of modern art.

So, I get myself a third ticket and see it again before it goes off to Canada.

And the subtitle? Ruiz is the surname of Pablo's father, while Picasso is the surname of Pablo's mother. Spanish tradition allows the child to take the surname of either, so I gather.



This is my contribution to Lesley's Signs, Signs meme.

15 comments:

Rae Walter said...

I was wondering how you would find the exhibition next time around even with all the festival activities. I still hope to see it.

Breathtaking said...

When an exibition is made up of the artists drawings rather than
the artists paintings,I guess it is not quite as interesting!!!
Having said that however I must have been to dozens of art exibitions, where drawings were the only exibits, and been totally
enthralled.
I do so admire your tenacity Julie,top marks for trying to
enjoy what was clearly a disapointing exibition.Picasso is not everyones hero!!!

hamilton said...

I am not a fan of Picasso, but I know that it will be in Toronto this summer. Like you, I sometimes need to see an exhibit more than twice to get a real appreciation for the works. Having a good docent leading a tour also helps. But then it makes for a really expensive tour with 3x the ticket price! Thanks for the heads up on the possible disappointment.

Emma Dalloway said...

Your photo of people on a conveyor belt passing through Picassos is a wonderful metaphor for the exhibition.

Very funny.

Julie said...

*grin* ... it does feel like that at times, Dalloway. One of the reasons for going back time and again, I guess, dynamic hopefully different.

Joe said...

Each of the Picasso images in front of the escalator seem to be bemused by the people traffic on the escalator. Nice one Julie. Looking forward to your comments after the third visit.

Chrissy Brand said...

You really captured the atmopshere well here Julie. It's always hard at an art exhibition where you are rarely allowed to take photos of the actual art, but you convey it so well here, in photos and words.

Chrissy

Chrissy at Manchester: a photo a day at Mancunian Wave

Joan Elizabeth said...

For some reason I don't even feel inspired to go visit this exhibition but I do like your shots in the gallery.

Emma Dalloway said...

If you go back too many times you may start to look like one of those Picasso ladies.

Julie said...

Hah! Dalloway, Picasso did not get involved with ladies but with women! Anyway, it would sorta be appropriate because most of the men I meet look like Picasso fellas.

Lesley said...

Glad to have you joining us with your signs, Julie.
I keep getting email notices from the AGO about this upcoming exhibit, but I don't think I will bother going.
That is one huge, almost off-putting, poster in the cafeteria!

Suburban Girl said...

I like how you included the public with your signs...giving them a context.

genie said...

Iam not an impressionist fan, but I adore are museums so would have been there, too. Like the two banners and the one with father and son. It was interesting learning about the use of surnames. genie

diane b said...

I would love to see that exhibition. I read his biography and saw some works in Madrid.

VioletSky said...

I think your shots of the advert banners and large poster are enough for me!