A nude Picasso painting at Edinburgh Airport is stirring up quite the controversy. Several people complained about a poster of the risqué painting "Nude Woman in a Red Armchair," which caused the airport to cover it up. Now management has decided to uncover the painting.
As part of a promotion of an exhibition at Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, a poster which features Picasso's painting was hanging in the terminal of Edinburgh Airport. However, after several complaints, airport management initially decided to cover up the painting as it is revealing.
Several departing passengers complained about the painting which depicts Marie-Thérèse Walter, Picasso's mistress and the mother of one of his daughters, Maya, while she is nude. People expressed concerns over the artwork. The airport decided to cover it up and the National Galleries of Scotland agreed to remake the poster with another painting from the exhibit.
Now, after reconsideration, the airport is uncovering the painting and keeping it displayed with the nude image.
Gallery officials found it strange that the airport would decide to cover up the painting in the first place. It is displayed in many other public places like the London Underground.
"It is obviously bizarre that all kinds of images of women in various states of dress and undress can be used in contemporary advertising without comment, but somehow a painted nude by one of the world's most famous artists is found to be disturbing and has to be removed," John Leighton, the director-general of the National Galleries of Scotland, told the BBC.
Leighton hoped that people could recognize the beauty of the photo. "I hope that the public will come and see the real thing, which is a joyous and affectionate portrait of one of Picasso's favorite models, an image that has been shown around the world," he said.
In a statement to the BBC, a spokesperson for the Edinburgh Airport said : "We have now reviewed our original decision and reinstated the image. The initial decision was a reaction to passenger feedback, which we do always take seriously. However on reflection we are more than happy to display the image in the terminal and we'd like to apologize, particularly to the exhibition organizers, for the confusion."
The Picasso and Modern British Art exhibition will be on display at the gallery until Nov. 4, 2012.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
