Photo: Lise Åserud / NTB
A minute's silence: Queen Sonja opens Munch and Picasso in Málaga
Queen Sonja opened the Munch–Picasso exhibition in Málaga on Thursday evening. Before turning to the art, she sent her thoughts to the victims of the train crash in Spain, and told how as a young woman she drew the way Picasso did.
Queen Sonja opened the Munch–Picasso exhibition at Museo Picasso Málaga on Thursday evening, in the city where Pablo Picasso was born. It is her first official trip abroad since King Harald died on 28 August.
The opening was held in a quieter form than planned, following the train crash in Spain the day before. It began with a minute's silence for the victims, and the gala dinner that was to follow was cancelled.
Her first thoughts were with the victims
The Queen began her speech with the train crash near Urda, in which 69 people died.
"My thoughts go to all who have lost their loved ones, to their families and friends," she said.
"I wish to express my deepest sympathy and condolences to all who are grieving at this difficult time."
The Picasso jug she sold
The Queen then spoke about her own relationship with Picasso. As a teenager she was fascinated by the way he painted faces and people.
"When I sat at home drawing, I imitated his way of seeing and depicting the human body," she said.
She also told how she once owned a jug made by Picasso, shaped like an owl. She later sold it at an auction. The money went to a good cause, but the Queen said she regrets it.
Of the two artists, she said they were very different, but shared "the courage to challenge conventions". Queen Sonja is an artist herself, and makes ceramics among other things.
"As you may understand, it is a great honour for me to be here in Picasso's home town," she said.
They never met
The exhibition brings together more than 100 works by Edvard Munch and Pablo Picasso, with loans from MUNCH, the National Museum and KODE, among others, and from museums in France, Spain, the United Kingdom and Austria. It is a collaboration between MUNCH in Oslo and the Fundación Almine y Bernard Ruiz-Picasso.
Curator Paloma Alarcó told NRK that the two artists never met, but knew of each other's work.
Picasso's grandson Bernard Ruiz-Picasso chairs the museum's board. "We know her well. She is closely connected to art, and is an artist herself," he told NRK. "We are happy and honoured that she wanted to come."
Culture Minister Lubna Jaffery and Oslo Mayor Anne Lindboe also attended the opening, and Lindboe gave a speech.
On Friday the Queen is due to visit the Norwegian School in Arroyo de la Miel in Benalmádena, where she will meet pupils and staff.