MEXICO: World's richest man, Carlos Slim, opens dramatic new museum in Mexico City

Record ID: 304145

  • Title: MEXICO: World's richest man, Carlos Slim, opens dramatic new museum in Mexico City
  • Date: 29th March 2011
  • Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (MARCH 28, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF RODIN SCULPTURE THE THINKER CARLOS SLIM WALKING INTO RECEPTION AREA FOR NEWS CONFERENCE CARLOS SLIM SITTING AT NEWS CONFERENCE PHOTOGRAPHER TAKING PICTURE WIDE OF JOURNALISTS AND SLIM AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MEXICAN BUSINESS MAGNATE CARLOS SLIM HELU, SAYING: "This museum is an open space so that all Mexican, travelers, foreigners who come to Mexico can visit for free and share this collection and also other collections or part of other museum's exhibits that can be shown in this space." WIDE OF THE GALLERY PHOTOGRAPHER TAKING PICTURES VARIOUS OF RODIN SCULPTURES ? CLOSE-UP OF RODIN SIGN (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MUSEOGRAPHER DOCTOR ALEJANDRO MASSO SAYING: "This museum was created by a man-- initially, a couple-- engineer Carlos Slim and his deceased wife, who were passionate about at and started to buy art which they weren't searching for. They weren't going to stores to see what they had; instead, they start acquiring little by little and, before they realized it, they had created one of the top 10 private collections in the world." GENERAL VIEW OF THE GALLERY PERSON WATCHING THE EXPOSITION VARIOUS OF RODIN SCULPTURE (LA PIEDAD) (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ALFONSO MIRANDA, DIRECTOR OF SOUMAYA MUSEUM, SAYING: "It's an extraordinary space, an opportunity to reread the artistic depth of Carlos Slim Foundation, an open space for all that will give us the opportunity to breathe art in the cultural center of Mexico City." VARIOUS OF ART GALLERY AT THE MUSEUM 18-VARIOUS OF THE MUSEUM EXTERIOR
  • Embargoed: 13th April 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Mexico
  • Country: Mexico
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
  • Reuters ID: LVAAKX2TXT8JV5F9E1VWAPXQ64RO
  • Story Text: Auguste Rodin's The Thinker and Salvador Dali's Christ are among Mexican magnate Carlos Slim's favorite pieces, showcased at his new Soumaya Museum, opening on Tuesday (March 29).
    Slim, who Forbes has named the richest man in the world, told reporters that asking him to choose his favorite artwork is a bit like asking which of his children he prefers but, later, the media mogul listed just a few of the works that will go on display at the Mexico City museum.
    He said admission to the museum will be free to all.
    "This museum is an open space so that all Mexican, travelers, foreigners who come to Mexico can visit for free and share this collection and also other collections or part of other museum's exhibits that can be shows in this space," Slim said.
    Seated at the foot of the massive The Thinker sculpture that graces the museum's reception area, the 71-year-old added that his favorite paintings from the collection include Edouard Degas' "The Bathers" and works by Renoir and Van Gogh.
    The Soumaya Museum, named after Slim's deceased wife, will house more than 60,000 pieces, including the largest Rodin collection outside of France.
    Museum Director Alfonso Miranda said the building was an important cultural contribution.
    "It's an extraordinary space, an opportunity to reread the artistic depth of Carlos Slim Foundation, an open space for all that will give us the opportunity to breathe art in the cultural center of Mexico City," he said.
    Slim heads a business empire that includes Latin America's largest cellphone provider, America Movil, hotels and stores.
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