Miro, Picasso and Dali, Oh My!

Today before class I decided to head over to Piazza della Repubblica to meet a friend to go see the Picasso and Dali exhibit. I was excited to go see the work because as being a fine arts minor, I had learned a lot about these two artists while I was studying back home. I got up around 9 and headed down to meet my friend after slowly getting ready and winding my way past the Duomo.  She had got there sometime before me so the two of us just experienced the gallery on our own.  I was expecting the exhibit to be full of the work that Dali and Picasso are most known for, Picasso with his cubism and Dali with his surrealism.  However, the exhibit was all about the building up of the artists lives to the peak of their career.  Between the two of these artists, I had always loved Dali because his art appears to be a dream, which was a lot of his intent with his extensive research and love for Freudian concepts.
 I had never heard of or learned about Miro before and after viewing his art, I can say that I think he was my favorite.  The colors he used were so vibrant and gave so much life to his art.  I learned so much about these different artists that I didn't know before.  The three artists had studied at the same school in Madrid and had similar experiences.  All three of the artists were born in Spain but non of which considered Spain to be their home.  Randomly through the exhibit, they would have information boards that would pose questions.  I really enjoyed this because it made you think about the artwork but then relate it to your own life through reflections. One of the questions was "Where do you consider home?" This question for me evoked a lot of emotion since I am so far away from home right now.  And although I am not homesick, it made me wonder what I do consider home.  For me I think there could be many.  Pullman and where I spent the last four years of my life.  Bothell, where I grew up and my family is.  And then I thought about Florence and being here in Italy.  Its strange how I can feel so comfortable in an unknown place with a culture that vastly contrasts mine. But I think Italian people and culture is one that I better connect myself with based on its characteristics that I know of so far.
In another part of the exhibit, it talked about Picasso and his family.  Picasso had one of the longest names ever. His full name was Pablo Diego José Fransisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Martyr Patricio Clito Ruiz y Picasso. Ruiz was his fathers last name and Picasso was his mothers.  It was when he was studying in school that he decided to sign his work with only "Picasso" because his friends told him that it was more unusual and he didn't respect his father. The exhibit continued to talk about how the artists viewed family.  Dali was kicked out of his house at a young age because he would spit on the portraits he painted of his mother when he was upset with her.  Then on a board was the question "No matter how mad you were at your family, would you abandon them?  Or would they abandon you?"  This thought had never crossed my mind. Lucky for me, I come from a family that has way too much love to give.  Abandonment is not an option. ;)

Viewing all of the art and reflecting on all of these things left me with a lump in my throat and on the verge of tears.  It was an amazing experience for me! I had no idea that this art exhibit would call up so much emotion in me.  Its interesting because when we were in Rome, one of my roommates experienced the same feeling when she was in St. Peters Basilica.  She said that she had never felt more alive when she was in the Cathedral, and for me, I had never felt more alive than when I was viewing the works of these world famous artists, and reflecting on myself.  I guess its the artsy-fartsy part of me that I just cant deny. My ticket cost me 4 Euro and I can assure you that it has been the best purchase I have made so far on my trip! :)