Here are five clips from the latest episode of my radio show, THE ART MOVEMENT, the weekly radio show hosted/produced by arts presenter Matt Micucci. The show revolves around art and culture, and where all art forms and free thoughts are allowed.
(To listen to/download the full radio show, scroll to the bottom of the page.)
Trans-genderism in Virginia Woolf’s novel, Orlando.
The problem with major bookstore chains like WHSmith.
The music of planets.
What Pablo Picasso told the Nazi secret police force about Guernica.
A tourist damaged a 19th-century Antonio Canova artwork while taking a selfie.
Lots more where that came from! You can listen to the full epsiode of THE ART MOVEMENT (including the music) via the player below.
A partial transcript from Episode 21 of THE ART MOVEMENT. Scroll down to listen to the full radio show.
Picasso was some guy, certainly one of the most revolutionary figures in the arts of the 20th century. And I love his works. How can you not really? One of his most famous works is named Guernica. It’s a masterwork.
It was painted in 1937 and depicts the bombing of Guernica, a city in Spain attacked by the German and Italian fascists at the direction of Francisco Franco and the Spanish nationalists during the Spanish Civil War.
In January 1937, while Pablo Picasso was living in Paris on Rue des Grands Augustins, he was commissioned by the Spanish Republican government to create a large mural for the Spanish pavilion at the 1937 Paris World’s Fair. He lived there all throughout the second world war and of course, under Nazi occupation of France.
While the city was under curfew, Parisians were constantly arrested and interrogated and Picasso himself, despite his status or perhaps because of his status, was no exception. He was particularly harrassed by the Gestapo, the Nazi secret police.
On one occasion, which has sort of become a legendary tale of his life, the Nazis searched his apartment and an officer spotted a photograph of the Guernica. This prompted the Gestapo to ask Picasso, “Did you do that?” And Picasso replied, “No, you did.” Which is just the perfect answer.
It’s interesting to note that while Picasso’s artistic career is often divided into various major stylistic phases commonly referred to as periods, the Guernica is the one work that seems to encapsulate several of these periods at one — from the surrealism he explored from 1926 onwards, to stained glass influences to the strong expressionist elements and so on.
Also, during his time in paris, he also painted a lot with grays, beige and such colors. At that time, it was also hard for him to get his hands on actual paint. Which is another reason why the Cannes work output was so joyful in comparison.
Last week, I interviewed London’ BASTIAN Gallery director Chris Craig on their new exhibition, “Atelier Picasso,” which reimagines his Cannes Studio as an immersive experience within the gallery. The exhibition will open on September 3. Here are five clips from our conversation.
(To listen to the full podcast, scroll to the bottom of the page.)
An introduction to “Atelier Picasso.”
Pablo Picasso was fascinated with animals and animal forms.
Pablo Picasso was aware of his status as a living legend.
What was Pablo Picasso’s life and work after World War II?
How art galleries should engage with the online world.
Welcome to THE ART MOVEMENT, a radio show about arts and culture, where all art forms and free thoughts are allowed. The show is hosted and produced by globe-trotting arts presenter Matt Micucci, and features plenty of music, interview clips and thoughts on current events.
Listen to episode 21 via one of the players below.
Matt’s Art Chat returns with a podcast conversation with Chris Craig, director of London’s BASTIAN Gallery. Here, we talk about the gallery’s upcoming exhibition, Atelier Picasso, which reimagines Pablo Picasso’s Cannes Studio as an immersive experience within the gallery, using a treasure trove of objects including furniture, sculptures, ceramics, drawings and prints.
Here are five clips from the latest episode of my radio show, THE ART MOVEMENT, the weekly radio show hosted/produced by arts presenter Matt Micucci. The show revolves around art and culture, and where all art forms and free thoughts are allowed.
(To listen to/download the full radio show, scroll to the bottom of the page.)
Why is Franz Kafka so celebrated and what is the meaning of “Kafkaesque”?
How Diego Velázquez gifted the Infanta Margarita Teresa with immortality.
Who was Emmett Till?
A Joaquin Phoenix-narrated animal rights documentary sparked a hostage crisis crisis in Ukraine.
What did Pablo Picasso in Cannes after the Second World War?
Lots more where that came from! You can listen to the full epsiode of THE ART MOVEMENT (including the music) via the player below.
I did want to talk about another notable Spaniard, generally considered one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. And I know you know who I’m talking about. The one and only Pablo Picasso, one of the most revolutionary minds of modern art, who according to famed singer/songwriter Jonathan Richman was never called an asshole… not in New York!
Anyways, the news is that London’s Bastian Art Gallery will be opening an immersive exhibition this September named “Atelier Picasso,” that will feature a unique recreation of Picasso’s Studio in Cannes, in the South of France, using a treasure trove of objects including furniture, sculptures, ceramics, drawings and prints.
The exhibition will also feature several photos of the artist at work, which allows me to once again briefly remind any artist who is listening that it is important that you document yourself at work because, as I often say, the history of art teaches us time and time again that documentation of an artist’s life and work methods is just as important as an artist’s works.
Anyways, let’s get back on track. Picasso moved to Cannes shortly after the second world war and of course, by then, he had already amassed a remarkable body of work but he was determined to keep experimenting. He also longed to escape a war-torn Paris, where he had lived for many years.
During this time, he was quite prolific in his experimentation with taking seemingly every day ceramic objects, and twisting and turning them into shapes, often animalistic shapes. This process actually gave new life to ceramics and from a personal standpoint, also showcases Picasso’s fascination with and love of animals, especially birds, but also animalistic forms in general.
Welcome to THE ART MOVEMENT, a radio show about the arts and culture, where all art forms and free thoughts are allowed. The show is hosted by globe-trotting art presenter Matt Micucci, featuring plenty of music, interview clips and thoughts on current events.
Listen to episode 19 via one of the players below.
Download the full radio show here.
In this episode:
Franz Kafka and the meaning of “Kafkaesque”
Diego Velázquez and the Infanta Margarita
Vocalese pioneer Annie Ross has died
Joaquin Phoenix animal rights documentary causes hostage crisis in Ukraine
Welcome to THE ART MOVEMENT, a radio show about art and culture, where all art forms and free thoughts aret allowed. The show is hosted by globe-trotting art presenter/content creator extraordinaire Matt Micucci. It features plenty of music, interview clips, comedy and chat about current events.
In this episode: Cecily Brown, The Stranglers, Sidney Bechet, Pablo Picasso and more. (This episode was recorded on May 17, 2020.)
In Arte Matt 