I saw a great new Picasso show at the Tate Liverpool last week (even if I am a bit biased being a Trustee!). At the lenders dinner, which launched the show, there were the three directors of the three Picasso museums in Spain and France, Picasso’s granddaughter and one of his muses who features in this show. They all know a lot more about Picasso than me!

The show was interesting, not just because these are great works of art but because there’s a narrative. For Picasso painting was a weapon. He fought the Nazis with his paintbrush, refused their bribes of coal and food in occupied Paris, apparently saying ‘Spaniards don’t get cold’. He then went on to draw the ‘Dove of Peace’ which became the symbol for the peace movement.

Tom Bloxham MBE joins Alexei Sayle at the exhibition launch - Copyright John Charlton Photography 2010

The exhibition starts with a chronology of events from World War 2, the Cuban Missile Crisis and some great clips of Picasso attending the World Peace Conference in Sheffield – something that shows a great artist trying to change the world.

It’s a world class show and it’s great that it’s in Liverpool; it’s a real symbol of the City’s success in turning itself around in the last few years.

The exhibition will run until 30th August, in the meantime to read more about the show:

Visit The Guardian

Visit The Times

Visit The Independent

Visit The Liverpool Echo