Your Excellency, the Ambassador of France, Mr Jean Felix-Paganon;
Mr Frederic Bouilleux, Head of European and International Affairs at the French Ministry of Culture and Communications;
Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
MEC Barbara Creecy;
Distinguished guests;
Ladies and gentlemen

It is indeed a privilege and an honour for me to be part of this historic and auspicious occasion, which is the opening of the Picasso and Africa Exhibition, on African soil.

When South Africa and France signed a cultural agreement in 1994 and established a bilateral partnership, the collaboration envisaged, which included Picasso and Africa Exhibition, seemed – at the time – a distant dream. For us, that dream has become reality.

Tonight’s official opening of this exhibition is the demonstration that the formalisation of cultural exchange is having widespread and positive outcomes. From training and education, to shared outputs across the whole range of artistic genres, to optimising international co-operation, this South African and French bilateral initiative supports the out Department’s vision of nurturing exchange for the benefit of creative industries and cultural growth broadly.

It is my understanding that Picasso and Africa will be exhibited here in Johannesburg and then move to Cape Town. We hope that this exhibition will also tour our continent and we also hope that in the future similar exhibitions from Europe and elsewhere will visit our shores again and proceed to other parts of the African continent.

Picasso, who was born of a parent who was also an academic painter, not only had the opportunity to study fine art and associate himself with renowned professional artists as well as the Communist Party, was also gifted. He was, in fact, regarded by some people as an art genius.

South Africa, and indeed the continent of Africa, has a wealth of untapped talent that can benefit a lot from this exhibition, which, I understand, is linked to the outreach programme of the French Institute of South Africa, a programme which promotes community understanding of the arts as well as the role of radio in that regard.

There is, indeed, a great need for more such programmes, more education and training in the arts to assist in the development and nurturing of our young and emerging talent. Maybe, one day, we will also have our very own Picasso out of Africa.

The impact that the work of Picasso has made on the work of African, and in particular, South African artists can be found in the works of many artists, in the 20th and 21st centuries. Even now, many of our students explore the fundamentals of his work in their daily creative processes.

The partnership between our two countries, i.e France and South Africa has over the past decade been strengthened immensely. And now, Picasso and Africa, adds, of course, in its own right, further impetus and credibility to this partnership. Our partnership will further be strengthened by the signing of the Programme of Cooperation (POC) between our two countries at a later date to be agreed to by our two Ministries.

This, I believe, is the most extensive Picasso exhibition ever assembled on African soil, and is the most significant international exhibition to visit our country to date.

The exhibition introduces the 20th century’s greatest European artist to South African audiences who would otherwise not have had the opportunity to experience his creativity first hand.

Over the course of the next twelve weeks, many South Africans will see Picasso’s works for the first time; and hopefully, it will not be for the last time.

Because Picasso and Africa offers an opportunity to explore the complex relationship between Africa and the rest of the art world, South Africans will hopefully witness and explore, engage and debate, the creativity and passion of Picasso, using points of reference that are meaningful in their own lives and in the exhibition’s contextual discourse.

They will witness the contribution of African art in Picasso’s creativity - that it was his recognition of the vitality and power of African art that would change the course of European art and open up a radically new path in 20th century creative expression.

The successful effort of the partners responsible to bring this specially curated exhibition by the National Picasso Museum in Paris to South Africa is highly commendable.

The long-standing partnership between Standard Bank, the French Embassy and the French Institute of South Africa, Air France and BASA together with our own Iziko South African National Gallery, has highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships, in the growth and economic, political and social development of our country.

On behalf of the South African government I would like to congratulate and thank all partners, sponsors and associates who are involved in this very ambitious and important project.

The biggest international art event to be hosted in our country will, I sincerely hope, lead to intensified collaborations, between South Africa and France, and encourage other countries, as well as the private sector, to do the same.

It is now my privilege and honour to declare the Picasso and Africa Exhibition open.

Thank you

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