Viking Sponsors National Geographic’s Genius: Picasso
Viking announced it has renewed its sponsorship of National Geographic’s fully scripted anthology series, “Genius,” which in season two explores the life and work of influential Spanish artist and pioneer of the Cubist movement, Pablo Picasso.
The premier partnership extension with National Geographic builds on Viking’s continued commitment to supporting enriching cultural programming, with current and past partnerships including PBS’ MASTERPIECE, the Los Angeles Philharmonic at The Hollywood Bowl, The Metropolitan Opera, Oslo’s Munch Museum, St. Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theatre, Ballet Sun Valley and more.
The Emmy-, Golden Globe- and Screen Actors Guild Award-nominated series will return for a second 10-part global event tonight, April 24, at 9 p.m. ET/PT, with a special two-hour premiere on National Geographic.
“We are pleased to continue our partnership with National Geographic’s Genius. Together we are engaging audiences who strongly believe in the value of learning and exploration,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking.
“National Geographic and Viking are two brands innately driven to enrich lives – through history, culture, art and exploration,” said Brendan Ripp, EVP, National Geographic. “We are delighted that, once again, Viking is lending their brand synergy to support Genius and our commitment to premium content.”
Dramatizing the stories of some of the world’s most brilliant icons, Genius: Picasso will explore the artist’s contribution to modern art and his turbulent personal life, which included tumultuous marriages, numerous affairs and ever-shifting political and personal alliances.
The star-studded cast includes Antonio Banderas (“The Skin I’m In,” “The Mask of Zorro”) as the world-renowned artist, Pablo Picasso, and joining him as the younger Pablo is Alex Rich (“Glow,” “True Detective”), who rejects academic study and joins the circle of young bohemian artists and writers struggling to make it in early 20th century Spain and France. Clémence Poésy (“The Tunnel,” “Final Portrait”) portrays Françoise Gilot, the French painter and author who had a decade long affair with Picasso yielding two children, and Sebastian Roché (“Young Pope,” “The Man in the High Castle”) plays Emile Gilot, Françoise’s tyrannical father.
The series takes the audience to iconic locations from Picasso’s life in Europe, including Paris, Budapest, Barcelona and Málaga, Spain, birthplace to both Picasso and Antonio Banderas. All of these featured locations are also destinations on Viking’s river and ocean cruise itineraries. In several destinations, Viking also offers guests real experiences to learn more about the life of Picasso.
In Málaga, guests can choose a dedicated shore excursion that visits Museo Picasso and provides history about the city of his birth. Also, on other popular Viking itineraries in Europe, guests may opt to visit the museums that house the three largest collections of Picasso’s work – Musée Picasso in Paris; Museu Picasso in Barcelona; and Museum Ludwig in Cologne.
(Viking)
