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RTÉ News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Spain gears up for year-long celebration of surrealist Joan Miró
The torchbearers for one of Spain's most famous artists, Joan Miró, are promising a year-long fiesta of events honouring the surrealist - and the foundation he set up half a century ago. Miró, who died in 1983 aged 90, was a giant of the surrealist movement, known for his playful, abstract paintings with bright geometric forms and doodle-like calligraphic lines. The Joan Miró Foundation, which he established in a purpose-built modernist structure on top of a hill in Barcelona in 1975, now houses a vast collection of his canvases, sculptures and other works. The institution is planning a year-long series of events to mark the half-century, ranging from exhibitions and concerts to a sunrise visit to its hilltop building. "In these 50 years, we've gone from being an artist's dream to becoming a cultural reference point in Barcelona and around the world," said foundation director Marko Daniel. The foundation traces its roots back to the early 1970s, when Miró - then living in the nearby island of Mallorca - sought to reconnect with his native city by creating a centre for contemporary art studies. His close friend, architect Josep Lluis Sert, designed the distinctive white-concrete building nestled on Montjuic hill, overlooking Barcelona. The foundation opened quietly on 10 June 1975, at Miró's request to avoid an official ceremony during the final months of General Francisco Franco's dictatorship. A more celebratory inauguration followed a year later, after the dictator's death. The anniversary celebrations kick off on Wednesday with the opening of an exhibition of photos, press clippings and architectural plans which trace the institution's evolution over the years. The foundation opened its doors at sunrise to allow visitors to experience the building bathed in the light of dawn. "Miró left us not only a building, a unique institution, and a remarkable collection, but also a way of seeing the world," said Mr Daniel. US ties explored One of the highlights of the anniversary will be the opening in October of "Miró and the United States", an exhibition examining the surrealist artist's connections with America - a relationship less documented than his ties to France. Miró visited the United States seven times between 1947 and 1968, and the show will feature works by American icons such as Louise Bourgeois, Jackson Pollock, and Mark Rothko alongside the Spanish artist's own pieces. After its Barcelona run, the show will travel to the Phillips Collection in Washington DC in March where it will remain on display until July 2026. "This will become the most important exhibition on Miró ever held in the United States," said the foundation's director of artistic programming, Ana Ara. Next year the foundation will carry out a major reorganisation of its permanent collection, with more interpretive material added to help visitors understand how the artist conceived each piece. "We want to place the visitor right in the moment when Miró was creating these works," Ms Ara said. Miró initially drew inspiration from artists such as Vincent van Gogh or Paul Cezanne before developing his own unique style. French writer Andre Breton, leader of the surrealism movement, once called Miró "the most surrealist of us all".
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
A Pennsylvania Man Pleads Guilty to Selling Fake Picasso and Basquiat Paintings
A Pennsylvania man pled guilty on May 29 to selling works falsely attributed to Joan Miró, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, and other notable artists. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, the man, 77-year-old Carter Reese, of Reading, was charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of mail fraud for an alleged art forgery scheme active between February 2019 and March 2021. He was accused of misrepresenting artworks as genuine creations from some of the most decorated names in modern and contemporary art, including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Roy Lichtenstein, Keith Haring, Fernand Léger, and Francis Bacon—all of whom have eight- or nine-figure auction records. More from Robb Report Old Forester's President's Choice Single-Barrel Bourbon Is Making Its National Debut Pizza, Parties, and Palazzos: How Mytheresa Is Winning over VICs Richard Simmons Called This $7 Million Hollywood Hills Estate Home for Decades The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the Harvard-educated Reese worked at Pottstown's Hill School as a fine arts and history teacher and later as director of admissions. (The article added that Reese and his wife were old neighbors of Taylor Swift in Wyomissing before she moved to Nashville.) He was an avid antiques collector, with a collection that held some 17,000 toys, Oriental rugs, and furniture, among other objects. In court documents, he claimed the collection had a total value of more than $6 million. The forgery scheme was discovered through a joint investigation by members of the FBI's Art Crime Team working in Philadelphia and Miami, and is being prosecuted Assistant United States Attorneys Ruth Mandelbaum and Jason Grenell. Reese is set to be sentenced on September 12 and faces a potential 40-year prison term. Best of Robb Report The 10 Priciest Neighborhoods in America (And How They Got to Be That Way) In Pictures: Most Expensive Properties Click here to read the full article.
Tokyo Weekender
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Tokyo Weekender
Upcoming Tokyo Exhibitions and Art Shows: June 2025
Tokyo's art scene is extensive and vibrant, and there's always so much to see. Whether you want to see some traditional Japanese art or a modern exhibit, here's a list of exhibitions happening in Tokyo that are worth checking out. List of Contents: Exhibitions Art Shows Related Posts Tokyo Exhibitions in June Queer Art Exhibition Explore diverse LGBTQ+ perspectives through 36 works by 30 artists at the Queer Art Exhibition, part of Tokyo Pride 2025. Free admission at Tokyu Plaza Harajuku, June 6 to June 18. Date & Time Jun 06-18・11:00-21:00・Closes at 19:00 on the Final Day Price Free Location BABY THE COFFEE BREW CLUB GALLERY ROOM/ART STREET More Details Ando Teru Exhibition: The Sculptor of The Hachiko Statue This exhibition revisits the sculptor behind Shibuya's beloved Hachiko statue, marking 80 years since his death. Date & Time Jun 21-Aug 17・10:00-20:00 Price ¥1000 Location The Shoto Museum of Art More Info Closed on Mondays (except for July 21, and August 11, 2025), July 22(Tue.), and August 12(Tue.), 2025 More Details Ukiyo-e In Play Exhibition Explore the evolution of traditional Japanese woodcut printing at the Contemporary Ukiyo-e Exhibition, featuring 85 artists reimagining the timeless art of ukiyo-e. Date & Time Apr 22-Jun 15・09:30-17:00 Price ¥1000 Location Tokyo National Museum More Details Love Fashion: In Search of Myself Exhibition A fashion exhibition from the archives of the Kyoto Costume, exploring clothing through our dreams and desires. From luxurious historical garments to iconic contemporary pieces from Alexander McQueen to Yohji Yamamoto, the show covers centuries of style to examine the deep connection that clothing has with human nature and the self. Date & Time Apr 16-Jun 22・11:00-19:00・Closed on Mondays Price ¥1600 Location Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery More Details Living Modernity: 1920s–1970s Architecture Exhibition "Living Modernity" explores the home as an innovative space of beauty, and the 20th century ideals that shaped how we live today. Showcasing projects from Japan, Europe, America and Brazil, the exhibition includes an impressive name-call of iconic architects, and shares how Japan responded to modernism with a focus on natural materials. With display objects spanning graphic art, models and immersive experiences, this exhibition is sure to delight fans of interior and architectural design, alongside anyone who has ever taken pleasure in a Zillow scrolling session. Date & Time Mar 19-Jun 30・10:00-18:00・Closed on Tuesdays Price ¥1800 Location The National Art Center, Roppongi More Details Joan Miró Exhibition From March 1 to July 6, the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum will host a retrospective dedicated to Joan Miró, one of the 20th century's most celebrated artists. Date & Time Mar 01-Jul 06・09:30-17:30・Fridays open until 8:00 p.m. / Last entry 30 minutes before closing / Closed: Mondays (except April 28 and May 5) and May 7 Price ¥2,300 / ¥1,300 for University Students / ¥1,600 for people over 65 years old Location Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum More Details Tokyo Art Shows in June Aokabi Saya: Mille Crepe 2 Exhibition Illustrator Aokabi Saya returns with Mille Crepe 2, a solo exhibition of new works showing at Parco Museum Tokyo. Known for blending analog and digital techniques, Aokabi draws inspiration from the stylized character designs of 1990s Japanese animation, reinterpreting them with a delicate balance of precision and spontaneity. Date & Time Jun 13-30・11:00-21:00 Price Free Location Parco Museum Tokyo More Details Isao Takahata Exhibition: The Man Who Planted Japanese Animation Explore the life and legacy of Isao Takahata, co-founder of Studio Ghibli, through rare art and materials from his iconic films, including Grave of the Fireflies, opening this summer at Azabudai Hills Gallery. Date & Time Jun 27-Sep 15・10:00-20:00・Last Entry 19:30 Price ¥1,200-¥2,000 Location Azabudai Hills Gallery More Details Hokusai: Another Story in Tokyo Immersive Exhibit Hokusai's masterpiece ukiyo-e come to life in a way never experienced before. This immersive experience presents the beauty of Hokusai's art with modern technology for an interactive exhibit. Date & Time Feb 01-Jun 01・11:00-20:00・Last admission at 19:10 Price ¥4200 Location Tokyu Plaza Shibuya More Details Sophie Taeuber-Arp and Jean Arp Exhibition Celebrating the visionary duo Sophie Taeuber-Arp and Jean Arp, this exhibition explores their radical art and design fusion in the Dadaist movement. Together their work redefined 20th century modernism — offering a vibrant dialogue between form, freedom, and creative synergy. Date & Time Mar 01-Jun 01・10:00-18:00・Open until 20:00 on Fridays. Closed Mondays. Price ¥2000 Location Artizon Museum More Info (¥1800 if purchased online) More Details Machine Love: Video Game, AI and Contemporary Art "Machine Love: Video Game, AI and Contemporary Art" at the Mori Art Museum spotlights contemporary artists that utilize game engines, generative AI and virtual reality technologies as tools for their visualization. Date & Time Feb 13-Jun 08・10:00-22:00・10:00-17:00 on Tuesdays, Admission until 30 minutes before closing Price ¥2000 for adults, ¥1700 for seniors, ¥1400 for university/high school students, free for children Location Mori Art Museum More Details Hilma af Klint: The Beyond Go and see the new exhibition of pineoreeing abstract artist Hilma af Klint (1862-1994) coming to the National Museum of Modern Art in March. Date & Time Mar 04-Jun 15・10:00-17:00・Closed on Mondays/Fridays and Saturdays open until 8 pm Price ¥2300 Location National Museum of Modern Art More Info ¥1,200 for University Students/¥700 for Highschool Students More Details "Japanese Gentian - Twin Lines," Daiya Yamamoto, 61 x 73 cm Daiya Yamamoto Solo Exhibition Daiya Yamamoto is an artist who skilfully merges traditional Western painting techniques with a distinctly Japanese aesthetic sensitivity to capture the essence of contemporary time. On view from May 24 to June 22, this exhibition marks Yamamoto's highly anticipated first solo show at Galerie Taménaga's Tokyo location since his acclaimed 2023 presentation at the gallery's Paris space, which captivated art enthusiasts in Europe. Featuring approximately forty new works, the exhibition spotlights Yamamoto's refined take on trompe-l'œil, a Western technique that creates the illusion of real-life presence. Date & Time May 24-Jun 22・11:00-19:00・11:00-17:00 on Sundays & Holidays Price Free Location Galerie Taménaga More Details Wisteria and Hydrangea Early Summer Goldfish 2025 Dive into the beauty of early summer at Art Aquarium Museum GINZA's Wisteria and Hydrangea Early Summer Goldfish 2025. Date & Time Apr 25-Jun 22・10:00-19:00・Last Entry at 18:00 Price ¥2,500 - ¥2,700 Location Art Aquarium Museum GINZA More Info Free Admission for elementary school children More Details Godzilla the Art 70th Anniversary Exhibition Godzilla is celebrating its 70th anniversary. Godzilla the Art Exhibition at Mori Arts Center Gallery showcases 29 artists and their interpretation of the giant monster. Date & Time Apr 26-Jun 29・10:00-19:00・Until 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, last admission 30 minutes before closing Price General and university students: ¥2500, high school students: ¥1600, elementary school and under: ¥600 Location Mori Arts Center Gallery More Info Weekday tickets are discounted More Details Kenjiro Okazaki Exhibition at Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo Kenjiro Okazaki's first major Tokyo retrospective highlights groundbreaking works, exploring the transformative power of form across media. Date & Time Apr 29-Jul 21・10:00-18:00 Price Location Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo 1F/3F More Details Exhibition: World Fair in Japan 1970-2005 Architecture fans will delight in this deep dive into Japan's Expo designs, from Osaka in the '70's to Aichi 2005's eco-conscious pavilions. Date & Time Mar 08-Aug 31・10:00-16:30 Price Free Location National Archives of Modern Architecture More Info Closed on Mondays, except public holidays (closed the following day instead) More Details Related Posts Jigoku Dayu: The Hell Courtesan Who Brought the Underworld to Japanese Art Discover Japan's Hidden Art Spaces: 5 Immersive Installations From Dragon Meat to Flying Cars: Expo 2025 Osaka's Most Incredible Innovations
CBS News
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
On this day in 1981: Joan Miró's Chicago sculpture is unveiled downtown
On April 20, 1981 — 44 years ago Sunday — a long-awaited piece of public sculpture was unveiled to a crowd on a chilly day in downtown Chicago. Going back to the 1960s, a sculpture by Spanish Catalan artist Joan Miró had been part of the plan for the plaza next to the George W. Dunne Cook County Office Building — previously known as the Cook County Administration Building and originally the Brunswick Building. The building at 69 W. Washington St. was completed in 1964, and architect Bruce Graham of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill told Betty Blum of the Society of Architectural Historians that he was talking with Miró about the sculpture when the building was still in its early planning stages. But at first, the Brunswick Corporation — which used the building as its headquarters before Cook County took over — decided not to have it built, Graham said. In the meantime, Pablo Picasso's iconic untitled sculpture in Daley Plaza — then known as Civic Center Plaza — was unveiled in 1967. The Chicago Loop Alliance said Miró's sculpture was supposed to be unveiled the same year as the Picasso, but it ended up being shelved until more than a decade later. Finally, a deal was finally reached to have it built with the cost split between the City of Chicago and private fundraisers, according to Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. At last on that chilly day a few months into President Ronald Reagan's first term, the sculpture known as "Miró's Chicago" made its debut. Joan Miró (his first name is pronounced "zho-AN") was born April 20, 1893, in Barcelona. He began business school there at the age of 14 while also attending art school, but ended up abandoning business for art studies following a nervous breakdown, according to a biography from the Guggenheim . Miró attended Francesc Gali's Escola d'Art in Barcelona between 1912 and 1915, and art dealer Josep Dalmau staged Miró's first gallery show in Barcelona in 1918, according to the Guggenheim. He went on to split his time between Paris and Mont-roig, Spain, and he joined the Surrealist group — an avant-garde creative movement led by poet André Breton. Miró's work appeared in the First Surrealist Exhibition in Paris in 1925 — along with works by other masters such as Max Ernst, Paul Klee, Man Ray, and Picasso himself. But as noted by the Metropolitan Museum of Art , Miró was branching out from the Surrealists by the end of the 1920s. He began to experiment with novel materials and artistic techniques, and began developing collages, sculptures, and artworks on paper during the 1930s, the Met noted. In 1941, Miró had his first major museum retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. After World War II, he settled in Palma, Majorca, Spain, where he began working with ceramics and making models for large-scale abstract sculptures, the Met noted. "Miró's Chicago" — completed toward the end of the artist's life — was just such a creation. The 36-foot sculpture, originally known as "The Sun, the Moon and One Star," was built from steel, concrete, bronze, wire mesh, and some colorful ceramic tile. A description published by the Public Art Archive describes the sculpture as being imbued with "the mystical presence of an earth deity, both cosmic and worldly." The bell-shaped base — with its red, white, black, and blue tile patterns — represents Miró's association of the female form with the earth, the spherical center represents the moon, and the shape of the face is based on a ceramic hook, the Public Art Archive notes. The fork on the top of the sculpture's head represents a star, with each tine representing a ray of light, according to the Public Art Archive. Ahead of the long-anticipated unveiling of the sculpture, Bill Kurtis and his Focus Unit celebrated the artwork and the artist with a special Channel 2 News report — which included a visit to Majorca, Spain for an interview with Miró. When asked what he hoped people looking at his work on Washington Street in Chicago would think about upon seeing it, Miró said through an interpreter that he hoped they would "think that they're looking at something marvelous, and that tickles them up here," while rubbing his forehead. This report, unfortunately, is not available in the CBS Chicago archive. Monday, April 20, 1981, was Miró's 88th birthday. It was also the day that Mayor Jane Byrne pulled a cord to unveil Miró's iconic contribution to the aesthetics of downtown Chicago. But everything did not quite go as planned that day. In a Chicago Tribune report, Kurtis noted that he and CBS Chicago talk show host Lee Phillip co-anchored the dedication of Miró's sculpture — this, unfortunately, is not available in the CBS Chicago archive either. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra was also supposed to play, but it was too cold and their instruments risked being damaged. A massive crowd turned out nonetheless to see Mayor Byrne unveil the sculpture sometimes called "Miss Chicago." "As the years go by, as we continue to appreciate the work of the masters, that I myself will know that not just the city that works, but the city that has sort of a little heart, played a role today in Joan Miró's birthday in saying the commitment that was made to you in the 50s — to you, Picasso, and to you, Miró — is now completed," Mayor Byrne said. "It's a city that loves you. It's a city that loves its art. It's a city that loves itself. And for that reason, I'm delighted that today we have the completion of a promise." Leo Arnaud's "Bugler's Dream" — better known as the Olympic Anthem — played as Mayor Byrne tugged a rope to send the yellow veil dropping free. The veil did not cooperate at first, and the fur coat-clad mayor had to keep tugging repeatedly to get the veil off. The crowd applauded when the veil fell and the sculpture was revealed at last. One man called the sculpture "the high energy and style that's Chicago." But speaking to the late Channel 2 reporter and intrepid adventurer Bob Wallace, few seemed to be in agreement that it looked particularly like a woman. One man even called the sculpture "ugly" and said he didn't like it at all. It took less than two weeks for Miró's Chicago to be back in the headlines again. On May 1, 1981, as a May Day rally was going on downtown, someone threw a container of oil-based red paint at the base of the sculpture. Police quickly arrested art student Crister Nyholm, 24, of Chicago's Ravenswood neighborhood. Police said at the time that they were already in the area when the vandalism happened, and responded to the scene to find Nyholm just sitting there staring at what he'd done. As Channel 2 News reporter Frank Currier reported, Nyholm told police at the time that he vandalized the sculpture because he hated it, and it was something he had to do. Third Coast Review reported that art conservators from the Art Institute of Chicago stripped off the paint, and a judge sentenced Nyholm to probation and imposed a fine. Miró died Dec. 25, 1983, at the age of 90. In 2025, 44 years after it was unveiled, Miró's Chicago still stands proudly in the plaza between the George W. Dunne Cook County Office Building and the Chicago Temple. The sculpture will be covered temporarily this spring and summer during renovations of the walkways surrounding the county office building, and all measures are being taken to ensure it is protected to go back on proud display once the work is done.
