Miro hosted in Istanbul

The doors of Sakıp Sabancı Museum are now open for art enthusiasts to visit the comprehensive exhibition featuring the works of the great Barcelona-born Catalan painter and sculptor. The exhibition ends on Feb. 1, 2015. Focusing on the mature period of the sophisticated artist's career, the event will be introduced under the title "Joan Miro. Women, Birds, Stars." Sponsored by Sabancı Holding, the exhibition, which opened its doors yesterday, was organized in collaboration with the Joan Miro Foundation in Barcelona and the Pilar and Joan Miro Foundation in Mallorca. Most of Miro's works are borrowed from the Succesio Miro family collection.

The rich selection of art works addresses the themes of women, birds and stars, which are inspired from Miro's own observations of the Mediterranean region and its people. The exhibition offers viewers the opportunity to understand the artist's symbolic language through different mediums, including sculpture, lithography, ceramics and oil painting. Art devotees will see the various interpretations of the energy that Miro brings from Mediterranean culture.

SSM manager Nazan Ölçer said they started the negotiations with the Joan Miro Foundation three years ago as the Miro exhibition was the last missing piece in SSM' s great Spanish painters trilogy that started with Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali. "We are glad to achieve our dream," Ölçer stated. She said the SSM and the Joan Miro Foundation decided to hold an exhibition of his selected works that centers on women, birds and stars. The artist's workshop tools were brought from the Pilar and Joan Miro Foundation. Ölçer said that Miro's works in different styles and some of his personal belongings will be exhibited for the first time ever at the SSM. "Moreover, a series of documentaries, which will be screened during the exhibition, will give an insight into Miro's life, his inner self, changes, friends, rage and reaction to political events both in his country and around the world," Ölçer added.

Sabancı Holding CEO Zafer Kurtul also said supporting culture and artistic events is a priority for them similar to financial activities. He noted that they have continued to support renowned artists in Turkey since the exhibition of Picasso, marking an era in Turkish museology. "I think it is our duty and responsibility to support prominent artists as a corporation. We contribute to our society through social responsibility projects," Kurtul said. He further stated that they are glad to have positive feedback from Turkish people. "There will be long queues outside the exhibition hall just like with the previous ones. Miro is the fourth great artist whose works are exhibited with the support of Sabancı Holding after the Picasso, Rembrandt and Monet exhibitions. The vision of Sabancı Holding is to make a difference. Miro is also an artist who made a difference through his art. The exhibition will provide the chance to know not only Miro's works but also his whole life," Kurtul said.