When Hong Kong welcomed the first extensive Picasso show anywhere in China for 30 years

When 60 Picasso paintings and sculptures went on display at Hong Kong’s Heritage Museum, it was the ‘most extensive show’ of his works ever seen in the city
It traced the Spanish artist’s journey from his start as a young prodigy, with the aim of introducing Asian audiences to the ‘length and breadth’ of his talent

From our archives

Dave Besseling

Published: 4:15pm, 23 Mar 2023

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“The Hong Kong government is putting up HK$7 million to fund the most comprehensive showcase of Picasso’s work ever seen in the city – and will also be stepping up security around the exhibit,” wrote the South China Morning Post on March 29, 2012.

“The two-month exhibition of artworks worth HK$6.7 billion from a French museum devoted to the Spanish master was announced this week, and it was revealed yesterday that the show would form part of the annual Le French May festival.

“The Leisure and Cultural Services Department is jointly presenting the Picasso exhibit with the French consulate, organiser of Le French May.

“An insurance bill of about HK$20 million is largely being paid by private sponsors. The exhibition will feature 60 paintings and sculptures as well as photographs by and about the modern art master.”

Hong Kong’s then French consul Arnaud Barthelemy (2nd from left) and the then president of Paris’ National Museum Picasso, Anne Baldassari, next to “Motherhood” by Pablo Picasso at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum. Photo: Jonathan Wong

On May 19, the Post reported that “Masterpieces from the Musee National Picasso, Paris opened this week at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum in Sha Tin.

“‘He was in revolution every day. He could’ve stayed a cubist, a surrealist, but he chose to push himself in other ways,’ said Anne Baldassari, president of the Musee National Picasso. The works were chosen from some 5,000 pieces at the Paris museum to introduce Asian audiences to the depth and breadth of Picasso’s talent.

Baldassari and Barthelemy at the unpacking of one of Picasso’s sculptures at the Hong Kong Heritage Museum. Photo: Jonathan Wong

“‘We could have just shown a masterpiece from his blue period, one from cubism, and one from surrealism, but I think it’s interesting to see the process,’ said Baldassari. ‘Here you can see self-portraits, the people that worked with him, people he was in love with, his children.’

“‘The six-room exhibition shows Picasso’s journey from 14-year-old prodigy to just before his death […] It is the first extensive show of his works anywhere in China since 1982,’ said Baldassari.”

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