Olivier Widmaier Picasso’s acclaimed Revealed exhibition bound for Sofitel Sydney and Melbourne hotels
A RARE glimpse of the greatest modern artists at work is heading to Australia in the form of a stunning photographic exhibition. Here’s a sneak peek.
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EXCLUSIVE
INCREDIBLE pictures of some of the world’s most famous modern artists have been obtained by News Corp Australia ahead of an exhibition at Sofitel hotels later this year.
From Pablo Picasso with lissom teenage model Sylvette David, to the bizarre Salvador Dali at work, the exhibition features 30 images from the archives of Paris Match magazine.
Curated by Olivier Widmaier Picasso — grandson of the great painter — “Revealed” is coming to the southern hemisphere for the first time after showing in the US, Europe and China.
Mr Picasso said he chose to exhibit the photographs in hotels because the intimate space seemed the right fit for the images, which captured a side rarely seen of the artists.
“You see the difference between artists,” Mr Picasso told media ahead of the exhibition’s Los Angeles showing.
“You see the one who is at ease with his interior. He does what he wants and the photographer has no power over the situation.
“Then there are others who want to show the viewer something.”
He said Salvador Dali was clearly performing while Pablo Picasso was not.
“My grandfather was impressed by photography very early in his career. You can see how comfortable he is with photographers and photography.”
One of the most strike images is of Kees van Dongen with French starlet Brigitte Bardot keeping a close eye on her portrait.
Others show Marc Chagall absorbed in his work painting a giant mural for the Paris Opera house Palais Garnier.
Picasso features in a number of the images including one with future wife Jacqueline Roque, and their dalmatian attempting to climb into its master’s lap.
Pop artist Jeff Koons is shown styling a BMW ahead of the 24-hour Le Mans, and Jean Cocteau is dwarfed by his fresco at the Chapel of St Peter of the fisherman.
Surrealist Rene Magritte, Expressionist artist Francis Bacon, Spanish painter Joan Miro and French painter and sculptor Pierre Soulages also make appearances.
The free exhibition will visit Auckland first, before opening at the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth Hotel on December 14, and then the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins from February 8, 2016.
Originally published as Olivier Widmaier Picasso’s acclaimed Revealed exhibition bound for Sofitel Sydney and Melbourne hotels