#PICASSO’S SOUTH: #ANDALUSIA

Installation view. #Museo Picasso Málaga http://www.museopicassomalaga.org/

#Picasso and the South (from article http://artdaily.com/news/108192/Museo-Picasso-M-laga-opens-the-exhibition–Picasso-s-South–Andalusian-References-#.W7y7TvZFyUk)

Picasso’s influence and contribution to the history of #20th-century art is undeniable.  The exhibition uses several premises to support the idea that Picasso never ceased to be interested in the origins and traditions of painting, in much the same way as his migrancy bound him emotionally to his homeland, never shedding his loyalty to his cultural ties: #Málaga, #Andalusia and #Spain were all part of his “southernness”, and not just in artistic terms.

DIEGO Voci, an #artist who also thrived in the “South“;  #Andalusia region and connected deeply with the people.  Helga Voci (widow of DIEGO Voci (VOH-chee) shares in writing from her #memories….“So we decided to go to Spain in October 1961. We took the car and went southward, stopped in several cities and after about 1 month we arrived in the Andalusia region in a very beautiful little fishing village called #Almunecar. This was an artist`s colony, all kind of artists from different countries.
We stayed until January 1962. We had a beautiful and very interesting time with long discussions, Diego also made paintings and drawings but he never kept anything, when the painting was finished he was not interested anymore and made presents to friends. He was very popular among the Spanish people also the higher class and he felt wonderful.” 

DIEGO Voci; “Liegender Akt” D2811-641 60x80cm Private Collection

Experience more with Diego;  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Diego_Voci#Southern_Europe_and_London

#CRAFTBEER #TATOOS AND NO SMOKING

…are a runaway trend in today’s “#New_Generation”…

Does the artwork of a long-dead artist fit into the lives of the “New Generation”?  Tastes change with time. For example, the constant smoking of internationally collected artist Antonio “Diego” Voci (VOH-chee, 1920-1985) would not be welcome in today’s trendy gathering places where no smoking is allowed.  40 cigarettes a day shortened Diego’s life when his lungs gave up.  45 years ago, at the La Gondola in Ramstein, Germany smoking was accepted. That’s where I dined with Diego on several occasions.

A good red wine, a tablecloth with an ash tray would be Diego’s setting as he perused Italian fare on Gigi’s menu.  Diego was most comfortable with extraordinary people in an ordinary setting, playing cards on the Mediterranean with fishermen in some poor village.  Diego’s specialty was portrayal of people.

As Victoria Williams wrote in 1974: “In the South, DIEGO says, people live their lives more openly.  They are more observable.  They gather in groups to talk on the street, they play games in their yards; they sit in the parks, – lovers, strangers, the poor, the rich, mothers, fathers, children, happy people, sad people, – people who have experienced – who are experiencing.  PEOPLE … living, feeling, being… these are the subjects of DIEGO.  He interprets freely on canvas what he has experienced.”

“An Italian under the rule of the Sun DIEGO paints richly.  He is drawn to living colors – warm, bright, dramatic.  His paintings radiate.  Like DIEGO, they dominate the space around them.  They demand attention.”  

One thing has not changed.  Art remains very much in the lives of our current generation.  Tattoos today are a fine art, very personal and proudly displayed on the aficionado’s skin rather than a canvas on a wall.  (Notice on The New Yorker cover the small of the lady’s back above the belt line).

The “New Generation” is not blind to quality and value. There are about 4,000 oil paintings signed “Diego” on 2 continents and some of them are appearing at absolute bargains. So be on the lookout.

GOOGLE, “Diego Voci” for more!

Happy Holidays!

Coop Cooprider, DIEGO Historian

DIEGO VOCI PROJECT