Last night marked the opening of Picasso and the Family at the Sursock Museum, an exhibition featuring 20 works by Pablo Picasso, organized with the exceptional support of the Musée National Picasso-Paris and in collaboration with the Lebanese Ministry of Culture.
The exhibition is made possible to the generous contribution of Ms. Danièle Edgar de Picciotto and the support of Mr. Cyril Karaoglan.
Among the attendees were the Lebanese Minister of Culture, Mohamed Daoud; the French Ambassador to Lebanon, Bruno Foucher; the Chairman of the Board of the Museum, former Minister Tarek Mitri; the Director of the Sursock Museum, Zeina Arida; the Director of the Musée National Picasso-Paris, Laurent Le Bon; Picasso’s grandson, Bernard Ruiz-Picasso, and his wife; Mrs. Danièle Edgar of Picciotto; and Mr. Cyril Karaoglan.
The opening kicked off with the Lebanese national anthem, followed by a speech by Mitri in which he announced the launch of Friends of the Museum: “This Museum belongs to all Lebanese citizens, not to a specific group of people or a specific city. We are happy today because we are regaining a part of our role, and apart from our commitment to Lebanese and Arab art, we are open to the world.
This is the first time since the reopening of the Museum that we organize an exhibition by an international artist. This will pave the way for us to organize additional international exhibitions, which reflect the cultural vitality of Lebanon and its openness to the cultures of the world.
This exhibition is the result of numerous partnerships. It would not have been possible without the collaboration of many contributors, including the President of Beirut Municipal Council, Jamal Itani; the Minister of Culture, who exerted great effort for the success of this exhibition; Ms. Danièle de Picciotto; Mr. Cyril Karaoglan; Mrs. Nayla Daher; and of course, the Musée national Picasso-Paris, which chose Lebanon to be the last stop of these masterpieces’ journey across the Mediterranean.”
Le Bon
For his part, Le Bon congratulated the city of Beirut for hosting this unique event and thanked all those who contributed to its success, in particular the French Ambassador to Lebanon, who played a key role in the success of this exhibition, as well as all the curators of the exhibition, Camille Frasca and Yasmine Chemali, and the Sursock Museum director Zeina Arida.
He also extended his gratitude to Danièle de Picciotto, who supported this project in memory of her late husband, Edgar de Picciotto. Le Bon said: “Picasso was an international artist, and the presence of his paintings in Beirut reflects the importance of this capital.”
De Picciotto
De Picciotto expressed her joy at organizing the exhibition in memory of her late husband, Edgar de Picciotto, who always believed in the positive impact of art and culture in the world, and in its capacity to act as a bridge between different civilizations. She also highlighted the pioneering and creative role of Lebanon in various cultural and artistic fields, which has made it a unique country in the region and in the world.
Karaoglan
Karaoglan said that this exhibition, which used to be nothing but a dream, has now become a reality, and considered it a victory for Lebanon and culture in Beirut. He also thanked France for its trust in this country and its mission, hoping for a promising future for Lebanon and its citizens.
Minister Daoud
Minister Daoud expressed his condolences following the death of former French President Jacques Chirac, and declared: “This wonderful collaboration between the Musée national Picasso-Paris and the Sursock Museum, with the support of Ms. Danièle Edgar de Picciotto, gave us the opportunity to enjoy these timeless works as part of “Picasso-Mediterranée,” and opened to the genuine Lebanese passion a window on the vast world of European and international art.
In museums across the globe: from Paris to Madrid, via New York, Moscow, and London, the world has seen the creations of this man of genius. From his blue and pink periods to surrealism. Every star in the sky of art shines in this sacred part of the sky and earth, and Picasso, who enriches our life with his colorful palette, is undoubtedly enriched by us and our taste.”
He added: “The Ministry of Culture praises this creative collaboration between France and Lebanon in the service of culture and the arts, and greatly appreciates the initiatives and initiators who have given this small country an important role.”
The opening was preceded by a guided tour for the press during which Le Bon presented the exhibited works.
The exhibition, on view until 6 January, is the final stop of the artist’s international journey across the Mediterranean. It will be open to the public for free every day except Mondays and Tuesdays.