On the occasion of Art Macao, One Central Macau, the joint venture between Hongkong Land and Shun Tak Holdings Limited, proudly presents for the first time in Macao, Pablo Picasso’s “Paintings in Glass” sponsored by Hongkong Land. Aligning with the objective of Art Macao, this show will contribute to arts and culture in Macao, establishing it further as a World Heritage city. The six artworks in this show are among fifty works, unique and signed, selected by Picasso himself between 1954 and 1957, among his most exemplary works to be interpretated in gemmail (French for 'enamel gem').
As part of Art Macao’s theme, “The Statistics of Fortune”, the show features works that are reminiscent of the technique of stain glass seen in churches in aesthetics, yet they are back lit lightboxes, engineered by a workshop led by physicist Roger Malherbe-Navarre working on light diffraction in Paris in the mid 1950’s. At the time, the technique was extremely innovative. The layering of several panes of carefully assembled glass gave Picasso’s artworks the third dimensionality he sought to achieve in paintings. The technology of these light boxes, backlit also gives a new life to the colours, as well as preserve them closer to the intention of the artist. Impressed by the gemmistes' masterful assembling and fusing of carefully selected glass, Picasso declared 'A new art is born!'
This show coincides with the 50th anniversary of the artist’s passing. The artworks exhibited are on loan from a private collection.
Hongkong Land has been a long-standing supporter of the arts since 1889. Making art and culture accessible to all, the Hongkong Land Art Committee aims to inspire, educate and cultivate an appreciation for the arts within the community locally and regionally.
