At a press conference at the GrandMasters' Palace, President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca announced that Fundación Mapfre will bring a major exhibition of Picasso and Miro to Malta in April, on the occasion of Valletta 18, the European Capital City of Culture.
This is the first exhibition of Picasso and Miro in Malta and perhaps of any modern painter of this stature. This exhibition is being held in collaboration with the Office of the President of Malta and Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti and will be part of a major international project Picasso-Mediterranee, an initiative from Musee Nationale Picasso-Paris, which is an international cultural event held from spring 2017 to spring 2019.
During the press conference, Pablo Jimenez, director of the Culture Area of Fundación Mapfre said that Fundación Mapfre believes that culture enriches people's lives and it has spent many years bringing art and history closer to the public through exhibitions, courses and publications which combine the interest of experts with the public.
Leyre Bozal, curator of the Fundacion Mapfre exhibitions highlighted that Pablo Picasso and Joan Miro are two of the 20th century's most influential artists. While the first founded cubism the second was active in the emergence of surrealism.
This exhibition displays 100 prints from the collection Suite Vollard as well as 40 paintings of Joan Miro. The exhibition has been entitled The Flesh and The Spirit and it is presented as a double journey from black and white to colour and from violence to the celebration of life, from carnality to spirituality.
Fundación Mapfre, in collaboration with The Office of The President and Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti, is offering this unique chance for those interested to learn more about two of the greatest artistic geniuses of all times and their creative process. As such, it is not just about significant and important works within the careers of the two artists as the works on display also allow us to question our own way of understanding art and enjoying painting. Visitors will be able to learn more about their artistic periods, their influences and their models, among other subjects.
Pablo Jimenez and Leyre Bozal said they are delighted to be part of this project to bring Picasso to Malta. They explained that Fundación Mapfre has five specialised areas and collaborates with a range of public and private, national and international institutions, NGOs, museums, foundations and associations in order to achieve its objectives .
Fundación has been very active in Malta since 2012 through The Street Smart campaign and Healthy Living campaign Caqlaq aimed to promote road safety and healthy lifestyle habits to more than 20,000 pupils aged 9 to 13 years, in schools across Malta and Gozo. Fundación also sponsored projects, in collaboration with the Equal Partners Foundation and Inspire Foundation, which aims to help and improve the quality of life of young children who have a disability problem.
Mapfre Middlesea is a strong supporter of the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation and recognises the excellent work carried out by this national charity. Martin Galea, chairman of Mapfre Middlesea expressed his gratitude to Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, President of Malta for agreeing to collaborate with Fundación Mapfre and making the Palace of the Grandmasters available for the exhibition, where people will have the opportunity to see the works of these great masters.