Picasso Through the Eyes of Paul Smith

As the first stop of the global tour and the sole venue in China, Picasso Through the Eyes of Paul Smith is co-organized by MAP and the Musée national Picasso-Paris. The exhibition adopts a contemporary perspective and presents seminal works spanning Pablo Picasso's entire career. The presentation constitutes the most complete and comprehensive survey of Picasso's art ever staged in China, offering Chinese audiences an unparalleled artistic feast.

A Century-Defining Master Who Redefined Modern Art

Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) transcended the conventional role of "artist" to stand as one of the defining figures of twentieth-century cultural thought and visual revolution. Widely acknowledged as a founder of modern art, a pioneer of Cubism and a central presence within Surrealist currents, Picasso assimilated and transformed influences from Impressionism, Symbolism, Neoclassicism and Surrealism. Through relentless and bold experiment, he forged artistic paths previously unimagined. His works continue to prompt present-day viewers to reconsider image, emotion and reality.

A Panorama of Picasso's Core Creative Phases Spanning Half a Century Lands in Shanghai

Picasso Through the Eyes of Paul Smith showcases, with rare breadth, the full spectrum of the artist's iconic creative phases: from the melancholic gaze of the Blue Period and the tender narratives of the Pink Period, to the revolutionary reconstruction of Cubism; from the return to form of Neoclassicism and the psychological tension of the Surrealist period, to the emotional expression of anti-war works, the renewed dialogue with Western masters, and onward to experiments with mixed media, and the unrestrained visual language of his late years. It comprehensively reproduces the stylistic variations throughout the life of this most creative and influential genius of the 20th century. The 80 exhibited works include oil paintings, charcoal drawings, pencil drawings, sculptures, watercolors, relief paintings, prints, ceramics, and over a dozen other mediums, leading audiences into an in-depth conversation with the most subversive legacy of artistic revolution from the twentieth century.

From Paris to Shanghai: The Re-presentation of Picasso's Miraculous Life through the Contemporary Sensibility of Sir Paul Smith

As an iconic figure in contemporary fashion, Sir Paul Smith with his broad vision spanning fashion, art, industrial design, and lifestyle, is regarded as a major driving force in today's creative culture. His acute insight into colour, materials, and visual language positions him as an ideal collaborator, offering fresh interpretative pathways for Picasso. Invited to serve as Artistic Director of this exhibition, he infuses it with a new way of seeing within a contemporary context, drawing from his cross‑disciplinary perspective and keen visual sensibility.

The Convergence of Tradition and Contemporaneity: Picasso's Renewed Presence in Shanghai

In this exhibition, Picasso's works are no longer fixed in a single context but acquire a fresh, contemporary mode of presentation within MAP's open, modern spaces, allowing the ideas and creativity of this master of the century to retain their sharpness today. Through deep collaboration with the Musée national Picasso-Paris, MAP extends its international curatorial reach and builds an urban cultural bridge connecting global artistic classics with contemporary cultural experiences.