Farah Atassi: Genius Loci

Farah Atassi: Genius Loci – A Contemporary Dialogue with Cubism at Museo Picasso Málaga

The Museo Picasso Málaga proudly presents Farah Atassi: Genius Loci. This exhibition showcases a powerful series of works by the acclaimed Belgian artist. She created these pieces between 2015 and 2025. The title is Latin for “the spirit of the place.” It invites viewers to explore the intriguing atmosphere of Atassi’s art. Her canvases seem to acquire a life of their own. Furthermore, they charge the space with a subtle, transcending energy.

A Picassian Ghost

Curator Marjolaine Lévy describes a “Picassian ghost” within the exhibition. She suggests the master’s spectral presence intrudes upon a world not his own. Specifically, this ghost inhabits the stage or mysterious places where “the curtain persists.”

Atassi reinterprets modern art tradition through a contemporary lens. She fuses abstraction with figuration. Consequently, she challenges the conventions of pictorial space. Masters such as Pablo Picasso, Fernand Léger, and Georges Braque inspire Atassi. She utilizes meticulous geometric patterns and grid structures. These clearly evoke Cubism. As a result, she creates an artificial space of confused scales and volumes.

Four Thematic Sections

The museum organizes the Genius Loci exhibition into four distinct thematic sections:

• The Studio: This is a reflective space. Female models rest alongside empty stretchers. Here, Atassi challenges traditional painting conventions.
• The Mechanical Cabaret: This section depicts female figures in motion. It features a synchronized choreography of legs, hoops, and balls.
• The Shore: Viewers see exterior scenes of bathers and sunbathers. Solid horizontal color blocks represent the sky, sea, and sand.
• Through the Window: Canvases show female figures surrounded by flowers and fruit. They look onto cloudy skies and starry nights through windows.

Architectural Construction and Reality

Atassi often constructs her works architecturally. Thus, her representation moves beyond a faithful reproduction of reality. Her precise lines and objects belong to a mysterious parallel world. In this world, time seems to stop. This unique style establishes her as a prominent figure in the current artistic scene.

About the Artist

Farah Atassi was born in Brussels in 1981. Currently, she lives and works in Paris. Her career includes notable solo and group exhibitions. For example, she had a show at the Musée national Picasso-Paris in 2022. Additionally, she participated in The Echo of Picasso at the Museo Picasso Málaga between 2023 and 2024.

This new collection reaffirms her ability to weave historical references with a sharp contemporary aesthetic. It offers a profound reflection on art history and representation. Visit Museo Picasso Málaga to experience Genius Loci. Witness Atassi’s unique approach to redefining the figure-ground relationship through theatrical and geometric space.