Singapore: Picasso's love affair with Africa is revealed in new exhibition

'Congo River: Arts Of Central Africa', which opens today at the Asian Civilisations Museum, features over 100 sculptures, masks and other artefacts from the different cultures found in the African countries linked by the extensive Congo River – Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo and Gabon.

Organised together with Paris' Musee du quai Branly, it also incorporates artefacts borrowed from museums in Belgium and The Netherlands – as well as Musee national Picasso in Paris.

But, while Congo River mainly focuses on the artefacts, there's a small but interesting section that highlights the relationship between African art and Pablo Picasso. It features four works that reflect the stylistic influence of African artefacts upon the Cubist master's first encounter with these.

Source: Today Online (Singapore), 10.12.10

Congo River: Arts Of Central Africa runs until April 10, 2011, at the Asian Civilisations Museum in Singapore. There will be a free lecture by Francois Neyt on Saturday, 3pm to 4pm. For details, visit www.acm.org.sg.