MIRO: "MY STUDIO IS A GARDEN AND I AM THE GARDENER"

The Genovese seem to think that this is a second rate city when it comes to cultural events compared to the rest of  Italy. I don't think that Genoa is doing too badly, though. Right now, for example, there is a big Joan Miro exhibition "Poetry and Light"  at the Palazzo Ducale (see also  www.come-to-liguria.com).

   I went there this morning early, wanting to avoid crowds and had a great luxury of walking through the exhibition as almost the only visitor. Later, of course, there were plenty others wanting to see the works of Miro, but it was really nice to look at the paintings in peace and quiet.

 

The Miro exhibition will run until April 7th 2013 at Palazzo Ducale in Genoa.

 

   In Italy an ID is required if you want to have an audio guide in English to go through an exhibition. I had forgotten my passport at home and was not able to have the gadget, but nevertheless, the story of Miro was told in many ways including posters in English. The most interesting was an interview with 84-year old Miro, who was talking to his friend. The interview was in French with Italian subtitles, but it was still possible to understand some of their conversation. Miro came across as a gentle person, whose imagination was still very much alive.

   Apart from 50 large, abstract paintings, there are also bronzes/sculptures and works made of all kinds of materials, including old newspapers and wood. All of them are on show in Italy for the first time.  I have to say that most of the paintings left me somewhat cold, however, I loved the ones with deep blue/red/yellow colours, which were inspired by nature in Majorca, where Miro painted.  It was easier to connect with Miro's signature images of birds, the moon and the eyes than the more difficult, strong black strokes of paint on white background.

   Miro's studio was reproduced in one room and it had many of the original objects the artist used daily. Standing in front of the studio, you could get a feel of a great creative mind, surrounded by finished and unfinished paintings.

  The small section of sculptures was a revelation to me. They were so funny and playful: simple, everyday objects had been transformed into something totally different. They made me laugh and wonder, how come I have never realised that a woman's body or a bird could look like that.  

 

 

Palazzo Ducale will also host a photographic exhibition by Steve McCurry soon.

 

 The Miro exhibition is not the only reason to visit Palazzo Ducale. From 18th October 2012 to February 24th 2013, there will also be an unmissable opportunity to see 200 photographs by Steve McCurry. The image on the poster is that of an Afghan girl, Sharbat Gula, which caused quite a stir when it was published on the cover of National Geographic magazine in June 1985. This particular photo will be on display.