When not inventing cubism or lurking in his blue period, Pablo Picasso was a clean freak who liked nothing better than to get out the Swiffer and Windex and have a real go at his apartment. That, at least, is according to the subversive imaginings of Toronto artist Eric Rosser.
With the AGO getting a lot of love for its current Picasso exhibition, Rosser is taking to the Gladstone Hotel across town to open his own Picasso show this evening. Kind of.
“Domestic Picasso” is a collection of Rosser’s paintings showing the famously great and purportedly misogynistic artist as a stay-at-home husband. Immitating Picasso’s style, Rosser has imagined the cubist doing the dishes, taking the kids to daycare and changing the baby. In some instances, he has given celebrated works a homey spin: Weeping Woman with Handkerchief, for instance, is transformed into Dinner Is Ruined and Olga Will Be Home Any Moment, showing a Picasso fretting over a burning stove.
Rosser says his idea was to tranform the misogynist into a feminist, while paying tribute to Picasso’s genius. The works have been made into a book, available at the exhibit, that’s just perfect for coffee table literature. Just make sure it’s a spotlessly clean coffee table.
Picasso Does the Laundry (Copyright Eric Rosser)
Picasso Picks Up a Few Things at the Dépanneur (Copyright Eric Rosser)
Domestic Picasso, Art Bar, Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W. Noon to 5 p.m., to June 18.