Fondation Beyeler and Swisscom Launch Contest to Loan Picasso Painting to Swiss Residents

The Fondation Beyeler in Riehen, Switzerland, in collaboration with Swisscom, has launched #myprivatepicasso, a contest offering one Swiss resident the chance to display Pablo Picasso's 1939 painting "Buste de femme au chapeau (Dora)" in their home for 24 hours on April 16, 2019. The initiative coincides with the exhibition "The young PICASSO – Blue and Rose Periods," running until May 26, which presents the most comprehensive European display of Picasso's works from 1901 to 1906. Additionally, the museum is hosting "Picasso Panorama," featuring about forty works spanning from early Cubism to late pieces, including loans from the Anthax Collection Marx and the Rudolf Staechelin Collection. Swiss residents can apply until April 1, with a jury from the Beyeler and Swisscom selecting the most original entry. The painting will be equipped with a smart frame that monitors humidity, temperature, GPS location, and triggers alarms for unauthorized movements, ensuring security via Swisscom's data network. Sam Keller, Director of the Fondation Beyeler, stated the goal is to make art accessible to a broad audience, including those who rarely visit museums, and noted that the innovative technology allows the loan to any Swiss home safely.