Springtime Surrealism
Spring Shows: Joan Miró, MoMA
Joan Miró is one of the great modern masters. In Spain, he is a part of their modernist triumvirate, which consists of himself, Picasso, and Dalí. He is a key figure of the Surrealist movement. He influenced dozens of artists both in Europe and abroad. So, in less than two weeks, it will be exciting to see the Museum of Modern Art’s latest interpretation of Miró’s artistic legacy in their exhibition Joan Miró: Birth of the World.
Every year, New Yorkers are confronted with a tidal wave of spring exhibitions, but this particular show has some added significance both for the artist and the institution. With MoMA’s extensive holdings of Miró works, this will surely be a handsome exhibition that will give people the chance to see some of the most important Miró pieces from the 1920s all the way through to the end of the artist’s career. According to the press release, over sixty artworks will be on display.
For MoMA, this will be one of the final exhibitions held in the museum before it closes for four months for a much needed expansion and renovation. While this exhibition will certainly be a winner, it is good news that MoMA will close temporarily. The new MoMA will ensure that more women, artists of color, and other minorities will be given a bigger stage, not just Miró, Matisse, or Pollock. In a way, this exhibition serves as a send-off for the old Museum of Modern Art before its rebirth in October of 2019.
With inclusion in mind, this show will also give us a look into Miró before he became one of the most acclaimed modern artists in western canon. For many years, Miró was respected amongst his peers, especially Surrealists like André Breton and Max Ernst. However, it wasn’t until the 1940s and 1950s did Miró become the major figure that we know today. This was warranted, as his work was so adventurous. It varied in style, and took strange and wonderful turns throughout the years. In his own way, Miró was an outsider until suddenly he wasn’t. Hopefully the new MoMA can help do the same for artists who have been sorely underrepresented.
