By Spencer Schneier, Staff Writer

From Sept. 14 to Feb. 22 Duke University’s Nasher Museum of Art is showcasing “Miro: The Experience of Seeing”.

The exhibit, which showcases the work of Catalan surrealist painter and sculptor Joan Miro, will be the only stop on the East Coast for the exhibit.

Featuring the works from Miro’s last 20 years, the exhibit is an eclectic mix of paintings and sculptures. Miro spent that time on the island of Mallorca, which is the location that he credits for his first inspiration. His breathtaking works are a reflection of the setting of their creation and the vividness of their expression.

Miro was heavily influenced by his great friend and fellow surrealist Pablo Picasso, and the first painting one sees when they enter the exhibit is the painting Miro did the day of Picasso’s death. It is a touching, beautiful and purposeful work that stands out, even among the other paintings.

Miro’s works show a fascinating insight into the female form, which Miro explored thoroughly. A common sight in the title of his painting is “Femme,” meaning woman. Many of his works reflect a critique on the role of women in society, and one sculpture even depicts a woman as nothing more than a vagina with a head and limbs. It is this power of connotation which Miro grasps so deftly.

Miro, who lived in Paris for much of his early life, was heavily influenced by Pablo Picasso, whom he admired greatly. His abstract portrayal of many ideas and concepts is reflective of much of what one associates with the works of Picasso.

Another recurring element of many of Miro’s works is the harsh brush lines he uses in his works, which can make his paintings much more pointed than they would be otherwise. He uses sharp contrast in color in many of the painting on display, which is made all the more obvious by the harsh lines. The exhibit also features a running motif of a crescent shape, although it is ambiguous as to the purpose of this element.

The event has an $8 fee for non-Duke students, and is being held for its entirety at Nasher Museum of Art in the heart of Duke’s campus.

The museum is also showcasing the UNC-TV documentary on Miro entitled “Miro: The Experience of Seeing”. On Dec. 7, the museum will host a tour of the exhibit.