A tribute to Giorgio Morandi and other Old Masters at the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao

Whether in New York or Bilbao, landing an exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum is an incredible achievement for any artist. From 12 April to 6 October 2019, the Italian painter Giorgio Morandi will have this honour. His compositions, which consist of still life paintings featuring banal objects, cut to the heart of the matter by distilling the everyday to its purest form.

Giorgio Morandi, Guggenheim's guest of honor

In a single exhibition space, viewers will be able to enjoy Giorgio Morandi’s universally recognisable paintings as well as a series of paintings from Old Masters that influenced his art throughout his career. The three gallery rooms dedicated to his work will create a dialogue between his paintings and those of famous artists such as El Greco, Crespi, and Chardin.

Despite its simple appearance, this painting required extremely precise techniques to achieve the final, flawless result. © DR

Giorgio Morandi is famous for his many still life paintings. © DR

Theatrical still life compositions

Some of the main themes explored in the exhibition include the theatricality of 17th century Spanish painting, the naturalism of the Italian « Seicento », and the geometry and intimate nature of the work. The details and the use of light to create shape range from contemplation to a series of pictorial references. The exhibition is well worth the trip to the capital of Basque Country.

Inspired by Cézanne, these « Botellas » are usually hanging in the artist’s eponymous museum in Bologna, Italy. © DR