Not everyone knows the ceramics of Pablo Picasso. With the exhibition “Picasso aan Zee” (Picasso at sea), the museum Beelden aan Zee (Sculptures at Sea) bring ceramics to the Sea. Until 5 March 2017, fifty ceramic works and twenty sculptures by Picasso will be on display in this dune museum in Scheveningen.
As a ceramist, I couldn’t miss this “Ceramics by the sea” exhibition. At the end of 2016 I had a look…
Ceramics by Picasso
Since 1946, Pablo Picasso has made some 4,000 (!) ceramic pieces in collaboration with the couple Ramié of Madoura Pottery in Vallauris. He painted pots, jugs and plates, but also experimented with distorting thrown ceramics. As far as I am concerned, these works are the most interesting ceramic sculptures of this versatile artist.
According to Pierre Daix, one of Picasso’s biographers, the Madoura Pottery was the first place in France where this “Spanish refugee” really felt at home. Vallauris is the heart of a historic ceramics region where pottery has been produced since Roman times. Here Picasso found in his ceramic works an outlet for his ever active desire for creation.
In 1985, the forerunner of the SM’s (museum Het Kruithuis) already organized an exhibition exclusively dedicated to Picasso’s ceramics. Unfortunately I missed this exhibition at the time, but at the rematch in the museum Beelden aan Zee, I was able to make up for it.
Ubo the owl in ceramics
My interest in birds and owls in particular will not surprise anyone who knows my work. Picasso also had a fascination with birds; Especially the pigeon can be found throughout his oeuvre. But those aren’t the only birds that inspired him.
The exhibition Picasso aan Zee features several owl sculptures. Co-curator Jean-Louis Andral, director of Musée Picasso in Antibes has one favorite: La Chouette Ovoid (the owl egg). This is a small owl sculpture with an iron yellow lead glaze (also one of my favorite sculptures at this exhibition). This ceramic image has a clear link to Picasso’s life.
As a guest at Château Grimaldi in Antibes, where in 1946 he had a space to work and live, he found a wounded owl. He took care of this little owl and gave him the name Ubo. Ubo then became his feathered house friend who accompanied him in Antibes, Paris and Vallauris. On the exhibition poster is a picture of Picasso with Ubo in his studio in Antibes. Picasso has immortalized this owl several times, including in ceramics.
Ceramics by the Sea in Beelden aan Zee
It is clear, I can wholeheartedly recommend this exhibition and not just because of Ubo the little owl. So if you haven’t visited the exhibition yet; it can still be done until 5 March 2017.
More information about this exhibition, address and opening hours can be found on the website of the museum Sculptures by the Sea.
Inspiring 2017
2016 is almost over. For me a year full of ceramics and not just from me, Picasso and Ubo helped.
On the last day of 2016, I wish all readers (and owls) a happy and inspiring 2017…
See you next year.
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