SPAIN
International contemporary art fair ARCO, February 10-14, Madrid. This largest international fair, held annually at the Juan Carlos I Exhibition Centre in Madrid, features more than 300 galleries from 32 countries. "Contemporary art" is a flexible concept; at the fair you can at least see little-known works by Picasso, Dalí and Joan Miró, if not buy them. Paintings, photographs, sculptures, and ceramics by our contemporaries are also abundantly represented at the Madrid ARCO fair.
Exhibition of Spanish 19th-century artists, February 7 – April 8, Madrid. It is known that a significant part of the collection of the famous Madrid museum Prado is kept in its storerooms, so the Prado's management several years ago developed a project to expand the museum by constructing new buildings and using nearby historic buildings. The implementation of this project is marked by a broad exhibition of paintings from the museum's most "contemporary" collection – Spanish 19th-century artists.
Visitors will be able to see a whole range of paintings "from the storerooms" of the Prado Museum: portraits of the courtiers of Ferdinand VII by Vicente López, historical paintings by Eduardo Rosales and Joaquín Sorolla, genre scenes by Mariano Fortuny, landscapes by Martin Rico and Agustín Riancho, and many other paintings by 19th-century Spaniards. //www.museoprado.mcu.esl
ITALY
Retrospective of paintings by Giuseppe de Nittis, until February 27, Rome. During February you can still catch the retrospective exhibition of paintings by Italian impressionist Giuseppe de Nittis (1846-84), which has been running for the last month at Chiostro del Bramante. More than 200 paintings by the artist, held in Italian and American museums and the Louvre, are arranged in the exhibition halls in chronological order so that visitors can see the evolution of the Italian artist's style.
The first part of the composition consists of paintings from the early student period, primarily Neapolitan works. The second part of the exhibition is devoted to the theme of travel, which chronologically corresponds to the artist's wanderings through Italy ("The Pass over the Apennines"). The third part of the exhibition is devoted to the last period of creativity in the short life of Giuseppe de Nittis – his London paintings ("Westminster Bridge in Dense Fog") and prints created under the influence of Japanese art. //www.chiostrodelbramante.it
Exhibition Luxury & Yachts, February 5-13, Verona. At this exhibition you can see only the attributes of a luxurious life: very expensive and therefore famous boats and yachts Riva, Harley-Davidson motorcycles, antiques, exclusive furniture, paintings, sculptures, ceramics, very expensive cars, furs, diamonds, jewelry, watches, exclusive footwear and other inevitable companions of a luxurious life. It should be noted that such an exhibition is the only one in Italy. //www.luxuryyachts.it
NETHERLANDS
Exhibition Auto RAI, February 10-20, Amsterdam. One of the world's largest car shows, which enjoys constant popularity among visitors, because the automotive novelties and car accessories presented there are carefully studied mainly by those who have decided to buy a new car. The prestige of this exhibition is confirmed by its long history: the first car show in Amsterdam was held in 1899. //www.rai.nl
FINLAND
International boat exhibition VENE BAT, February 12-20, Helsinki. Lovers of water and water travel can head to the Helsinki VENE BAT exhibition in mid-February with a light heart. Yachtsmen, lovers of rowing in kayaks, canoes and other boats will gladly examine the boat novelties; diving enthusiasts and even amateur fishermen will not remain indifferent either. //www.finnexpo.fi
FRANCE
Exhibition Dreaming and Drawing, February 17 – May 16, Paris. Those who agree with Freud that the dream is the "royal road to the unconscious" will be interested in the exhibition organized by two of the most famous museums in Paris – the Louvre and the Centre Pompidou. The goal of the exhibition is to explore kinship, to seek the interconnection in the world of dreams and the unity of technique in the world of drawing. The exhibition composition consists of two sections: drawings by masters of the Italian school of the 16th-17th centuries are exhibited at the Louvre, and drawings by contemporary artists – at the Centre Pompidou. //www.centrepompidou.fr, www.louvre.fr
Exhibition of Francis Bacon, February 22 – May 30, Paris. At the end of February, the Picasso Museum in Paris will open an exhibition of paintings and drawings by the English artist Francis Bacon (1909-92), created under the influence of Picasso. In 1927, Bacon, a simple office clerk, visited an exhibition of Picasso in Paris, which struck his imagination and inspired him to take up painting. The current exhibition is interesting because very few works from the early period of Francis Bacon's creativity have survived. //www.musee-picasso.fr
CZECH REPUBLIC
International exhibition Sport Prague, February 23-26, Prague. The international exhibition-fair of sports goods and sports fashion is held in the capital of the Czech Republic twice a year. "Sport, rest, health" – the main theme of Sport Prague. Bicycles and motorcycles, goods for tourism and water sports, hunting accessories, clothing and footwear for sports and fitness from the spring-summer collection will be presented at this exhibition-fair. You can both look and buy. //www.sportprague.cz
SWITZERLAND
Exhibition 'Flowers in Contemporary Art', February 20 – May 22, Basel. The Beyeler Foundation Museum presents an extensive thematic exhibition 'Flowers in Contemporary Art: From the Impressionists to the Present Day'. The flower theme in the works of the Impressionists is represented by paintings by Édouard Manet, Paul Cézanne, Vincent van Gogh, Emil Nolde. The flower theme of the mid-20th century will be reflected in paintings by Max Ernst and David Hockney. Contemporary flowers as depicted by Andy Warhol, Pipilotti Rist, Jeff Koons are the latest experiments with an old theme. The Baudelairean motif of 'flowers of evil' will also be presented at the exhibition. //www.beyeler.com
Universal trade fair Muba, February 18-27, Basel. Everything we use daily in our lives, everything that has the most direct relation to our everyday life, is presented at the Basel trade fair Muba. That is why it is called 'universal'. A wide range of goods and manufacturer prices annually attract a huge number of visitors, who will be able to see and purchase goods for sports and leisure, furniture, watches, jewelry, books, toys, gifts, food products (including dietary ones), cosmetics, cameras, household appliances and much, much more. //www.muba.ch