Guide to the Picasso for Asia Exhibition at M+ Museum
The Picasso for Asia: A Conversation exhibition, part of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Series, is a significant collaboration between M+ and the Musée national Picasso-Paris (MnPP). It showcases over 60 works by Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) from the late 1890s to the early 1970s, drawn from MnPP’s collection—the largest repository of Picasso’s works globally. These are displayed alongside around 130 pieces by 30 Asian and Asian-diasporic artists from the M+ Collections and select loans, spanning the early 20th century to the present. The exhibition, co-presented with the French May Arts Festival 2025, explores Picasso’s influence through four thematic archetypes: The Genius, The Outsider, The Magician, and The Mythmaker. It highlights cross-cultural and intergenerational dialogues, examining how Asian artists have responded to Picasso’s innovations through homage, critique, or reinterpretation.
Key Details:
Dates: March 15, 2025 – July 13, 2025
Location: M+ Museum, West Gallery, Level 2, West Kowloon Cultural District, Hong Kong
Organizers: M+ and Musée national Picasso-Paris (MnPP), co-presented with French May Arts Festival
Sponsors: The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust (Title Sponsor), HSBC, Cathay, C C Land, Chubb Life, 1O1O, The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, and the Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund
Curators: Doryun Chong (Artistic Director and Chief Curator, M+), François Dareau (Research Fellow, MnPP), and Hester Chan (Curator, Collections, M+)
Exhibition Structure
The exhibition is organized into four sections, each representing an archetype that defines Picasso’s legacy and its resonance with Asian artists:
The Genius: Focuses on Picasso’s early talent and self-mythologizing as a prodigy. Highlights his mastery of traditional techniques and relentless experimentation, reflected in works like Portrait of a Man (1902–1903). Asian artists’ responses explore the concept of artistic genius.
The Outsider: Showcases Picasso’s “Blue Period” and his integration of Cubism and Surrealism, as seen in works like Dead Birds. This section examines his challenges to societal norms, paired with Asian artists’ reinterpretations of outsider perspectives, such as Luis Chan’s Cubist Sea Shore (1959).
The Magician: Celebrates Picasso’s transformative creativity, with works like The Acrobat (1930) and Figures by the Sea (1931) highlighting his ability to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. Asian works, such as Isamu Noguchi’s Strange Bird (1945/1971), echo this experimental spirit.
The Mythmaker: Explores how Picasso constructed his legacy and how contemporary artists critique it, addressing themes like his controversial personal life. Notable pairings include Massacre in Korea (1951) with Simon Fujiwara’s Who vs Who vs Who? (A Picture of a Massacre) (2024), which reflects on modern conflicts.
Must-See Artworks
Here are five standout pieces to seek out, blending Picasso’s masterpieces with Asian artists’ responses:
Pablo Picasso, The Acrobat (1930): An iconic Cubist work showcasing Picasso’s revolutionary fragmentation of form, paired with Asian artists’ reinterpretations of Cubism.
Pablo Picasso, Portrait of Dora Maar (1937): A vibrant, emotional portrait reflecting Picasso’s relationship with the artist Dora Maar, displayed alongside works exploring personal narratives.
Pablo Picasso, Massacre in Korea (1951): A powerful anti-war painting inspired by the Sinchon Massacre, paired with Simon Fujiwara’s contemporary response addressing modern conflicts.
Luis Chan, Cubist Sea Shore (1959): A Hong Kong artist’s take on Cubism, demonstrating how Picasso’s style influenced local art movements.
Isamu Noguchi, Strange Bird (1945/1971): A brushed bronze sculpture resonating with Picasso’s exploration of form and space, highlighting cross-cultural artistic dialogue.
Visitor Information
Tickets:
Standard: HKD 240
Concessions: HKD 120 (full-time students, children ages 7–11, seniors 60+, persons with disabilities and one companion, CSSA recipients)
Kid & Adult Combo: HKD 300 (1 adult + 1 child), HKD 480 (2 adults + 1 child)
Free Admission: Children ages 6 and below; M+ Members and Patrons receive free admission vouchers and discounts (30–50% off standard tickets).
Tickets include access to M+ General Admission exhibitions and the Guo Pei: Fashioning Imagination exhibition starting March 15, 2025.
Purchase online from January 23, 2025; M+ Members and Patrons have priority purchasing from January 17–22, 2025.
Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 10:00 AM–6:00 PM (closed Mondays, except public holidays).
Location: M+ Museum, West Kowloon Cultural District, 38 Museum Drive, Kowloon, Hong Kong
Getting There:
MTR: Kowloon Station (Tuen Ma Line) or Austin Station (West Rail Line), then a 10-minute walk.
Bus: Routes to West Kowloon Cultural District include 8, 11, 215X, or 281A.
Ferry: Star Ferry to Tsim Sha Tsui, followed by a 15-minute walk or shuttle bus.
Accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible entrances, restrooms, and audio guides. Contact M+ for specific accommodations.
Special Features and Programs
Free Audio Guide: Available in Cantonese, English, and Mandarin, exploring Picasso’s works and Asian artists’ responses.
Pop-Up Chats: 10-minute talks by M+ Guides in the gallery (Cantonese, English, Mandarin):
Tuesday–Friday: 11:30 AM, 12:30 PM, 1:30 PM, 3:30 PM, 4:30 PM, 5:00 PM
Saturday, Sunday, Public Holidays (April 18, 19, 21, May 1, 5, 31, July 1): 11:30 AM, 5:00 PM
Subject to gallery conditions; check with staff.
Interactive Installation: A sand painting recreation of Picasso’s Guernica (1937) in The Studio, with a special event on June 28, 2025, where visitors can walk over and sweep away the sand.
Public Talk: On March 15, 2025, Cécile Debray (President, MnPP) and Suhanya Raffel (Museum Director, M+) discuss Picasso’s contemporary reception. Free, registration required via M+ website.
Community Outreach: Free family drop-in events, school tours, and NGO visits, supported by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.
Exhibition Monograph: Picasso/Asia: A Conversation, a 240-page book with 216 color illustrations, published by Thames & Hudson in collaboration with M+, available in March 2025.
Tips for Visitors
Plan Ahead: Book tickets early, especially for M+ Members’ priority period (January 17–22, 2025). Expect crowds during weekends and public holidays (April 18, 19, 21, May 1, 5, 31, July 1).
Time Your Visit: Allow 2–3 hours to explore the exhibition fully. Start with the audio guide to understand the thematic archetypes and artist dialogues.
Explore the Museum: Your ticket includes access to M+’s General Admission exhibitions and Guo Pei: Fashioning Imagination. Visit the Roof Garden (free) for views of Victoria Harbour.
Photography: Non-flash photography is permitted for personal use. Check gallery signs for restrictions on specific artworks.
Dining: M+ has on-site cafes and restaurants. Nearby West Kowloon Cultural District offers additional dining options.
Combine with Art Basel: The exhibition coincides with Art Basel Hong Kong (March 28–30, 2025), where related Picasso works, like Le Repas Frugal (1904) and Buste d’homme (1964), will be displayed.
Why Visit?
This exhibition is a rare opportunity to see Picasso’s masterpieces, including rarely exhibited works like Massacre in Korea and The Bathers (1956), alongside Asian artists’ responses that reframe his legacy through a contemporary, non-Western lens. It challenges conventional narratives about Picasso, addressing his artistic innovations and controversial personal life, while highlighting M+’s role as a global cultural hub. The dialogue between Picasso’s works and those of artists like Isamu Noguchi, Luis Chan, and Nalini Malani creates a dynamic exploration of art’s interconnectedness across cultures and eras.
For more information, visit M+ Website or contact M+ for ticketing and program details.
