What's On at Europe's Museums
June 9, 2003Titian in Madrid
Museo Nacional del Prado, Madrid, Spain
No other artist was more celebrated in Spain during the Renaissance than the Italian painter Titian (1487-1576). His works were collected by the country’s nobility and served as a source of inspiration for other great artists such as Rubens and Velázquez. The Museo Nacional del Prado in Madrid houses one of the best collections of Titian’s paintings, and yet the museum has never devoted a major exhibition to his work. Starting June 10th, the museum will change that by putting on the largest display of the Venetian’s works since 1935. A total of 65 paintings gathered from various European and American collections, including some of the most famous works such as "Salome," "Man With a Glove," "La Schiavona" and "Ranuccio Farnese," will be on display. The Prado wanted to celebrate the creations on an artist who has been revolutionary for modern painting, according to the museum’s director Miguel Zugaza.
Till September 7, 2003 -- Tuesday through Sunday, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The Terracotta Army Comes to Germany
Rheinaue Park, Bonn, Germany
In 1974, farmers in the Chinese province of Shaanxi made a startling archeological discovery: the tomb of the first Chinese Emperor and more than 8,000 life-size terracotta warriors and their horses. Replicas of the 2,200 year-old sculptures are now on display in Bonn in the Rheinaue Park across from the Japanese Garden. Visitors to "Terra-Präsenta" walk through the reconstructed burial site, built on a 1:10 ratio in a giant tent, accompanied by period music. Nearly 1,000 figures are on display, 122 of which are original size warriors and horses. The show’s highlight is the gilded sculpture of the first Chinese emperor Quin Shi Huang Di.
Till August 10, 2003 – daily from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., after August 23 in Hamburg
The Architect’s Studio
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Humlebaek, Denmark
The Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Humlebaek near Copenhagen concludes its series "The Architect’s Studio" with an exhibition dedicated to the works of contemporary Italian architect Renzo Piano, whose approach to construction and continued experimentation with modern materials have brought him international acclaim. In 1998 he received the Pritzker Prize – the Nobel Prize of architecture. Piano is best known for his contributions to the reconstruction of Potsdamer Platz in Berlin and the Kansai Airport Terminal in Osaka, Japan, the world’s largest such building. In each of his creations, Piano strives to bring together an interest in "humanistic concerns and technical sophistication," according to the museum. The Louisiana series on architects previously featured works by Frank O. Gehry, Henning Larsen and Norman Foster.
Till September 28, 2003 – daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Wednesdays until 10:00 p.m.
Art and War in the Media Age
Kunsthalle, Vienna, Austria
"Attack! Art and War in the Media Age" is the name of a special exhibit on display at the Vienna Kunsthalle in the city’s new museum quarter. From photography to videos, paintings, objects, collages and installations, contemporary artists from around the world present their impressions on the subject of war. According to the exhibit’s curator, "War remains the father of all things, even though its appearance, its methods, its aims and its language of imagery are constantly changing." The exhibit is designed to guide the viewer between the extremes of horror, fascination and trauma.
Till September 21, 2003 – daily from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Thursdays until 10:00 p.m.