Picasso-Chagall Collection Warms Art Lovers’ Hearts

DUBAI - Exclusive artwork of the titans of 20th Century art, Pablo Picasso and Marc Chagall have been bought together in a landmark exhibition ‘Picasso-Chagall: The Reconciliation’ at Opera Gallery, Gate Village located at the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC).

Dhanusha Gokulan

Published: Mon 16 Mar 2009, 1:34 AM

Last updated: Sun 5 Apr 2015, 8:27 PM

The exhibition, which began on Thursday is set to continue till April 2.

Melanie Taylor, an art expert at Opera Gallery said, “The reason why this particular exhibition is a landmark event for art lovers is because Picasso and Chagall, despite their initial reverence for each other never spoke to each other again, after an argument in 1954.

It’s 55 years later that the gallery has decided to reconcile both artists, showing their works for the first time ever in a joint exhibition in Dubai.”

Both artists held great respect for each other.

Picasso spoke highly of Chagall and once said, “When Matisse dies, Chagall will be the only painter left who understands what colour is.”

But, in 1954 at a dinner party, the artistes had a fierce argument after which they never spoke to each other.

Considering the complex relationship between the two artists makes this exhibition a very significant one for art-lovers all over.

Melanie said people in Dubai has been extremely receptive to this joint venture.

“We had over 600 visitors who showed up at the opening ceremony. Dubai has been hungry for this type of an art exhibition, and the response for the same has been overwhelming.”

Spanish painter, draughtsman and sculptor Pablo Picasso is the undefeated star of the art market. Art experts and enthusiasts around the world unanimously consider his work as the symbol of the 20th Century art.

Some of Picasso’s most celebrated artwork including the oil on canvas painting Nature Morte au Poron (1948), Mosquetaire (1967) and Le Porro (1957) are on display at the exhibition.

Marc Chagall, a Russian Jew, produced more than fifty enormous projects, including the stained glass pieces in the cathedral in Metz, the UN Headquarters in New York and a mural painting at the Metropolitan Opera  House New York, which are a few of his biggest works.

Opera Gallery in DIFC has a little over 150 pieces of paintings and sculptures. The paintings are a heady mix of artwork, by many contemporary artists, ranging from impressionist to modernist themes. The gallery has a special black room which displays paintings by artists like French impressionist Claude Monet and French Orientalist painter George Washington.

Opera Gallery is a commercial gallery, and all the displays are up for sale with prices ranging from $5,000 to $7.5 million.

Melanie Taylor said, “We also have a big collection of art from Chinese contemporary artists like Zheng Jie Feng and Wang Yehan among a few.”

She added, “Pretty much every gallery here in the UAE caters to bringing up local artists, but we are in the process of looking for talented local artists whose work we can display in our other galleries in Paris, London, Geneva etc. and provide them with international experience.”  

dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com