at the opening of the Picasso and Africa Exhibition held at the Standard Bank
Centre, Johannesburg
7 February 2006
Your Excellency, the Ambassador of France, Mr Jean Felix-Paganon;
Mr Frederic Bouilleux, Head of European and International Affairs at the French
Ministry of Culture and Communications;
Members of the diplomatic corps;
MEC Barbara Creecy;
Distinguished guests;
Ladies and gentlemen
It is indeed a privilege and an honour for me to be part of this historic
and auspicious occasion, which is the opening of the Picasso and Africa
Exhibition on African soil.
When South Africa and France signed a cultural agreement in 1994 and
established a bilateral partnership the collaboration envisaged, which included
the Picasso and Africa Exhibition, seemed at the time a distant dream. For us
today that dream has become a reality.
Tonightâs official opening of this exhibition is the demonstration that the
formalisation of cultural exchange is having widespread and positive outcomes.
From training and education to shared outputs across the whole range of
artistic genres, to optimising international co-operation, this South African
and French bilateral initiative supports the out Departmentâs vision of
nurturing exchange for the benefit of creative industries and cultural growth
broadly.
It is my understanding that Picasso and Africa will be exhibited here in
Johannesburg and then move to Cape Town. We hope that this exhibition will also
tour our continent and we also hope that in the future similar exhibitions from
Europe and elsewhere will visit our shores again and proceed to other parts of
the African continent.
Picasso who was born of a parent who was also an academic painter, not only
had the opportunity to study fine art and associate himself with renowned
professional artists as well as the communist party was also gifted. He was in
fact regarded by some people as an art genius.
South Africa and indeed the continent of Africa has a wealth of untapped
talent that can benefit a lot from this exhibition which I understand is linked
to the outreach programme of the French Institute of South Africa, a programme
which promotes community understanding of the arts as well as the role of radio
in that regard.
There is indeed a great need for more such programmes, more education and
training in the arts to assist in the development and nurturing of our young
and emerging talent. Maybe one day we will also have our very own Picasso out
of Africa.
The impact that the work of Picasso has made on the work of African and in
particular South African artists can be found in the works of many artists in
the 20th and 21st centuries. Even now many of our students explore the
fundamentals of his work in their daily creative processes.
The partnership between our two countries, i.e. France and South Africa has
over the past decade been strengthened immensely. And now Picasso and Africa
adds of course in its own right further impetus and credibility to this
partnership. Our partnership will further be strengthened by the signing of the
Programme of Co-operation (POC) between our two countries at a later date to be
agreed to by our two Ministries.
This I believe is the most extensive Picasso exhibition ever assembled on
African soil and is the most significant international exhibition to visit our
country to date.
The exhibition introduces the 20th centuryâs greatest European artist to
South African audiences who would otherwise not have had the opportunity to
experience his creativity first hand.
Over the course of the next twelve weeks many South Africans will see
Picassoâs works for the first time and hopefully it will not be for the last
time.
Because Picasso and Africa offers an opportunity to explore the complex
relationship between Africa and the rest of the art world South Africans will
hopefully witness and explore, engage and debate the creativity and passion of
Picasso using points of reference that are meaningful in their own lives and in
the exhibitionâs contextual discourse.
They will witness the contribution of African art in Picassoâs creativity
that it was his recognition of the vitality and power of African art that would
change the course of European art and open up a radically new path in 20th
century creative expression.
The successful effort of the partners responsible to bring this specially
curated exhibition by the National Picasso Museum in Paris to South Africa is
highly commendable.
The long standing partnership between Standard Bank, the French Embassy and
the French Institute of South Africa, Air France and BASA together with our own
Iziko South African National Gallery has highlighted the importance of
public-private partnerships in the economic growth, political and social
development of our country.
On behalf of the South African government I would like to congratulate and
thank all partners, sponsors and associates who are involved in this very
ambitious and important project.
The biggest international art event to be hosted in our country will lead to
intensified collaborations between South Africa and France as well as encourage
other countries over and above the private sector to do the same.
It is now my privilege and honour to declare the Picasso and Africa
Exhibition open.
Thank you.
Issued by: department of Arts and Culture
7 February 2006
Source: Department of Arts and Culture (http://www.dac.gov.za/)
