Popular Picasso exhibition at Ateneum sets new museum record

Hundreds huddled under blankets on show's final evening

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The hugely popular exhibition of Pablo Picasso’s masterpieces ended in Helsinki’s Ateneum art museum at midnight on Thursday, attracting a total attendance of 314,755 visitors and setting an absolute all-time visitor record at the museum.
      Still on the last day nearly 6,800 latecomers rushed to see the museum’s most popular show of all time.
     
Neither the frosty weather (it was below -15°C with a nasty wind) nor the blizzard that swept across the capital managed to scare off people who were standing in line outside Ateneum.
      The museum kindly provided the queueing visitors with blankets.
      ”We came at the last moment, but Picasso is worth it. The blanket is nice and warm”, said Tomi Bergholm, standing in line outside.
      Bergholm thinks that Picasso’s genius was manifested in his ability to combine things in a radically new way.
      Standing next to him, Emmy Oranne pointed out that Picasso was also a businessman.
      ”Especially during his last years, Picasso signed everything possible”, she noted dryly.
     
Ateneum’s Press Officer Marja Istala-Kumpunen was observing the flood of visitors on Wednesday and Thursday.
      ”I am extremely satisfied. Actually, I did not know what to expect, as we have never before had such an exhibition at Ateneum. We will open a bottle of sparkling wine to conclude the exhibition, and later on we will arrange a post-exhibition party to celebrate our success”, Istala-Kumpunen declared.
      A steady queue of people was flowing smoothly to the ticket office. The last person who managed to buy a ticket to the exhibition was Anne Pielismaa from Tampere.
      ”I am looking forward to a great experience. I believe that I will be emotionally affected. In his own category, Picasso was a pioneer”, Pielismaa noted.
     
The last visitors to leave the exhibition were Kirsi-Mari and Tero Manner from Helsinki.
      ”The exhibition was an impressive experience. It felt like a great cultural event, the atmosphere was splendid”, said Tero Manner.
      Museum Director Maija Tanninen-Mattila presented a complimentary exhibition catalogue and a card to the last visitors to leave before the lights went out.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Ateneum Picasso exhibition gets three-week extension (17.12.2009)
  Pablo Picasso and his wall of myths (15.9.2009)

Links:
  Ateneum

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