Edinburgh airport could not sustain Picasso painting, though famous

Picasso Nude Painting

The Edinburgh Airport authority wanted to have a different look to their premises with a famous artwork by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso. But on the contrary it became the issue of criticism and they at last covered it with white vinyl on Tuesday and finally put is back.

The airport was forced to put Picasso’s “Nude Woman in a Red Armchair” back on display after previously covering it with vinyl because passengers found it too risqué.

Gallery chiefs branded their decision as “bizarre” and the move sparked much criticism over the internet. Just a day later, the airport revoked their decision.

"It is obviously bizarre that all kinds of images of women in various states of dress and undress can be used in contemporary advertising without comment,” said John Leighton, director-general of the National Galleries of Scotland, “but somehow a painted nude by one of the world's most famous artists is found to be disturbing and has to be removed.”

According to an Edinburgh Airport spokeswoman, the initial decision to cover the poster was "a reaction to passenger feedback, which we do always take seriously.

"On reflection we are more than happy to display the image in the terminal and we'd like to apologise -- particularly to the exhibition organisers -- for the confusion," she added.

The poster of the famous artist’s painting was promoting the Picasso and Modern British Art exhibition at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern art. The exhibition runs at the gallery until November 4.