PICASSO'S BARBER

 

"I was impressed by the sense of freedom and abandon intrinsic to his lack of pretension as a writer. His every line was written with love and poise, a sensibility that he, as a native of Málaga, had not lost. He constantly recalled Málaga's light, flavors and smells."

Enrique Morente

The genius painter's poems, texts and writings are used to add melody and voice to memories of Picasso's native Málaga: the smell of casseroles, the flavor of home, the memories of his childhood, all of which Morente turns into drops of art, breaths full of sound that are ahead of their own time.

Eugenio Arias met Picasso while he was in exile. He was Picasso's barber, his confidant, his friend and his companion on afternoons spent at the bullring. As a result of this friendship, Picasso gave Eugenio many of his works, which Arias later gave to the Community of Madrid so that these pieces could be seen in his hometown, Buitrago del Lozoya. The works of art were used to found the Picasso Musuem-Eugenio Arias Collection, the first museum to belong to the Community of Madrid. The museum is now celebrating its 25th anniversary.

Suma Flamenca is again reuniting the painter and the cantaor (flamenco singer) in the birthplace of the man who spent all that time with Pablo Picasso. This is one of a series of events that the General Directorate of Archives, Museums and Libraries has planned to commemorate the museum's anniversary.