Olivier Widmaier Picasso

Last week, on a muggy day that felt like last year’s summer, I left my office a little after 3 in the afternoon to scurry down to the Sofitel Hotel which is located a few steps away from the heart of the city, a place otherwise known as Times Square. It was there that I was to preview, and later on, interview the grandson of Pablo Picasso, Olivier Widmaier Picasso. Picasso has a grandson who is also an artist? No, not quite. Although he understandably have a real flair for exquisite art, the 54-year-old Parisian, who was trained as a lawyer, is the author of many books about his celebrated grandfather. He is also a journalist, who is getting ready to release a documentary on Picasso later this year. “Revealed” a new photography exhibition that is currently on display at the lobby of Sofitel New York, is curated by Oliver Widmaier Picasso. All 30 individual photographs were chosen by him, from the archives of Paris March, a weekly french newspaper. These intimate snapshots offer a unique window into the lives of blue chip artists like Salvador Dali, Rene Magritte, Jeff Koons, Keith Haring, and of course, Pablo Picasso.

High End Weekly™: First of all, congratulations on this exhibition. In “Revealed” one recognized a solid group of global artists, that I myself have admired for decades. How did you come to the initial idea or realization of selecting them?

Olivier Widmaier Picasso: Softel and Paris March came to me and offered this unique opportunity to create an energetic ensemble in a very candid manner. Some of these artists are seen in the privacy of their living rooms, others are seen on the streets. The idea was to create an exhibit which portrait those solitary artists, at times, playing with the camera. Some of the artists are a little shy, a little passive even. Other artists like Pablo Picasso, Jeff Koons, Salvador Dali are quite the opposite. Looking at the photographs, it become clear that they are playing with the camera, they found the photographers a bit amusing. One gets the sense that they are showing the photographers what they want them to see. They want to project that they are in control of the situation. Are they revealing themselves? You be the judge.

“Reveled” a photography exhibition curated by Oliver Widmaier Picasso

From left: French filmmaker Henri-Georges Clouzot, and Pablo Picasso

HEW: Have these pictures been shown to the public before?

OWP: Of course, they were originally published in Paris Match, but what’s unique about this exhibit is that they have never been shown together in the way that you see them here. Working with my team, it was important to have the juxtaposition of the images right. We wanted to show all the artists together in a way that make the entire tableau “complete”. There are elements of surprise here and there. And at other times, you can easily see the relationship that they have with each other.

René Magritte, and his candelabra, 1965

“This is a more innovative way
to showcase individual art to people.
We are so use to going to museums,
or galleries in order to enjoy art.
This exhibit is a new way to show people
a moment of creation, and the intimacy of the artists.”
Olivier Widmaier Picasso

HEW: Is there a story behind this curated group of photographs? As the storyteller that you are, was that your intention when you were putting it all together?

OWP: I was ready to be discreet behind the power of each picture. I felt quite honored really when I was asked to put the exhibit together. At the same time, my team and I did not want to betray the situation. When you have great artists like Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Keith Haring as the subjects, when putting it all together, I felt that somehow, I was part of each of their history. It was a proud moment for me.

The lobby of Sofitel New York

Jeff Koons

“… you also have people who are

looking for emotion – at any price.

Even if it is a small price, for a small drawing.”

Olivier Widmaier Picasso

OWP: You have to be a storyteller. Having a background in television, I’m very aware of the fact that people love a good story. And so in this case, I was thinking we have to make a novel (Smile). Because you know, these artists were very important artists at the beginning of the 20th century, and right until our time.

Salvador Dali pausing with Frederika: “The Queen of Venus”, 1965

Think about it. It’s quite extraordinary knowing that there is over 110 years of art between these artists. 110 years! So surely they all have a tremendous story to tell. There are some happy stories, there are some sad stories as well. When you think about Keith Haring… His story is very touching. Here we see him in the photograph as a simple guy, casually dressed. Perhaps he did not realized it at the time how his legacy, his artwork was going to morph to a high magnitude. His story symbolizes a link to AIDS, especially during the 1980s. Keith Haring was so close to the public, he was such a popular artist, even though he had a short career.

Olivier Widmaier Picasso’s latest book – Picasso: Portrait In Time

“It was not only about

the artists being the subject,

but it’s about the photography as well.

And so with these multiple layers,

you have to be innovative,

and careful at the same time.”

Olivier Widmaier Picasso

HEW: What do you think about the globalization of art?

OWP: It’s a big question, because today in the art market where you have all those auction sales, you have the urgency from new clients. The point is, most people want to buy a “record”. What do I mean by that? Most people don’t want to buy the painting. They want to buy the most expensive painting available for that particular artist, the one which will hold the highest record price. And on the other side, we know that the art world is made of artists, experts, historians, curators, specialists, journalists that are maintaining the art world, which is also a “scientific world”. Therefore, money is the point, but you have to remind yourself that there is emotion. Humans have emotions. We need more than a car, a plane, a painting. Of course, like I said before, you have people who are looking at the “record”, but you also have people who are looking for emotion – at any price. Even if it is a small price, for a small drawing. Having said all that, I’m quite optimistic. Quite optimistic about the art world.

Photo credit High End Weekly™

Olivier Widmaier Picasso, Dominique Colliat, Balendra Nagesvaran

Last Wedneday evening, we attended a chic soirée at the Sofitel Hotel. To be sure, the occasion was more special than most. This was the opening cocktail party for “Revealed,” an exhibition curated and presented by Olivier Widmaier Picasso, grandson of Pablo Picasso. Capturing intimate moments from the most famous painters in history, “Revealed” is a compelling photo show that took us behind the scenes of renowned artists and their iconic works. Mr. Picasso handpicked all 30 photographs from the collection of Paris Match, a renowned French weekly magazine. Among the prized photographs that were on display was a black-and-white image of Pablo Picasso eyeing a Dalmatian longing to climb upon his lap; Salvador Dalí seen sitting in an animal exhibit at the Paris Zoo; Jeff Koons styling a BMW for the 24 Hours of Le Mans; Pierre Soulages crouching over a work in progress.

Kees Van Dongen painting a posing Brigitte Bardot; and other striking images depicting Rene Magritte, Marc Chagall, Fernando Botero, Joan Miro, Jean Cocteau, Francis Bacon, and many more. The exhibit is now at the lobby of the Sofitel hotel, whichis located near Times Squares, until the end of August. Then it is off to their various hotelslocated in Washington, Chicago, Canada, and Beverly Hills.Look for High End Weekly’s interview with Mr. Olivier Widmaier Picasso this coming Monday.

Balendra Nagesvaran, Olivier Widmaier Picasso, Dominique Colliat

Olivier Widmaier Picasso, Dominique Colliat, and Balendra Nagesvaran, Sofitel Luxury Hotels’ general manager and Vice President of Hotel Operations for North America.