Mexican tycoon Slim opens huge art collection to public
Source: Agencies |
March 3, 2011, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE world's richest man, telecom tycoon Carlos Slim, has opened a new museum in Mexico City where he plans to show his vast collection of art and collectibles, including pieces by Mexican muralist Diego Rivera, French sculptor Auguste Rodin and Italian master Leonardo da Vinci.
The Soumaya museum - named after the tycoon's late wife - opens to the public on March 29 and admission will be free.
The museum "will be important for the Mexican people ... it will be a place for them to enrich themselves with international history, with art history, with the history of Mexico," Slim said at a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by President Felipe Calderon, Colombian author Gabriel Garcia -Marquez, and American TV host Larry King.
Slim led a small group of special guests through the museum, which will display a rotating selection of his 66,000 artworks, including pieces by Mexican artists Rivera and Rufino Tamayo, as well as European masters.
"There are few, very few spaces where Mexicans can learn about the great masters of all time," Calderon said. "With this museum, Mexico is at the forefront when it comes to world art and architecture."
Slim's fortune was estimated at US$53.5 billion by Forbes magazine last year, topping Microsoft founder Bill Gates and investor Warren Buffett. He is said to especially admire Rodin, and his collection of the French sculptor's work is one of the largest outside France.
Designed by Slim's architect son-in-law, Fernando Romero, the six-story, anvil-shaped building cuts a dramatic arc through the skyline of the capital's upscale Polanco district. Some 16,000 aluminum panels make up the museum's bending exterior, reflecting sunlight onto broad stairs leading to the entrance.
The Soumaya features 17,000 square meters of exhibition space over six halls.
One hall will house Slim's collection of coins, bills, gold and silver, for the first time on display to the public. The others will showcase his collection of portraits, fashion and furniture; works by European masters such as da Vinci and El Greco; as well as 19th- and 20th-century paintings by Monet, Cezanne and Van Gogh.
Slim, 71, is the son of a Lebanese-born merchant whose conglomerate of retail, telecom, manufacturing and construction companies -dominates Mexico's -commercial landscape.
The Soumaya museum - named after the tycoon's late wife - opens to the public on March 29 and admission will be free.
The museum "will be important for the Mexican people ... it will be a place for them to enrich themselves with international history, with art history, with the history of Mexico," Slim said at a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by President Felipe Calderon, Colombian author Gabriel Garcia -Marquez, and American TV host Larry King.
Slim led a small group of special guests through the museum, which will display a rotating selection of his 66,000 artworks, including pieces by Mexican artists Rivera and Rufino Tamayo, as well as European masters.
"There are few, very few spaces where Mexicans can learn about the great masters of all time," Calderon said. "With this museum, Mexico is at the forefront when it comes to world art and architecture."
Slim's fortune was estimated at US$53.5 billion by Forbes magazine last year, topping Microsoft founder Bill Gates and investor Warren Buffett. He is said to especially admire Rodin, and his collection of the French sculptor's work is one of the largest outside France.
Designed by Slim's architect son-in-law, Fernando Romero, the six-story, anvil-shaped building cuts a dramatic arc through the skyline of the capital's upscale Polanco district. Some 16,000 aluminum panels make up the museum's bending exterior, reflecting sunlight onto broad stairs leading to the entrance.
The Soumaya features 17,000 square meters of exhibition space over six halls.
One hall will house Slim's collection of coins, bills, gold and silver, for the first time on display to the public. The others will showcase his collection of portraits, fashion and furniture; works by European masters such as da Vinci and El Greco; as well as 19th- and 20th-century paintings by Monet, Cezanne and Van Gogh.
Slim, 71, is the son of a Lebanese-born merchant whose conglomerate of retail, telecom, manufacturing and construction companies -dominates Mexico's -commercial landscape.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
