I studied Spanish as a thrid language when I was in school. Thanks to my teacher, I could learn not only its grammar but get much information about Latin American. And I got interested in its culture. Needless to say, it is impossible to integrate their various cultures into one. So I decided traveling to each country.

In May 2011, I made a journey to Colombia. One of the purposes of my travel was visiting the art museum of Fernando Botero, my favorite artist. This is a story about Maestro Fernando Botero.

FERNANDO BOTERO IS…

Fernando Botero was born in 1932, in Columbia. He is considered the most famous artist from Latin America. He spent his boyhood at Medellin and attended a matador school. But in order to make his dream as an artist come true, he left school. When he was 16 years old (1948), Botero’s paintings were first presented to the public. This time the exhibit was not only for him; in a group show. He already had a work as an illustrator for the newspaper at that time. His first one-man show was held at the Galería Leo Matiz in Bogotá in 1950. Botero studied at the Academia de San Fernando, in Madrid, in 1952. He was inspired by Francisco de Goya and Diego Velázquez. When he traveled to Mexico, he had a new idea of “fat” figure. Since then, he continues refining his style and recieve a high evaluation.

BOTERISMO

Everywhere in Colombia, we can meet his works. We can determine them at a glance, because of his characteristic style “Boterismo”.  He use exaggerated expression; He describes people and figures oversized. It’s said that his works represents political criticism or humor. 

He explains the reason why he draws the fat figures as follows.

“An artist is attracted to certain kinds of form without knowing why. You adopt a position intuitively; only later do you attempt to rationalize or even justify it.”

For him, figures aren’t ‘fat’. He pursues and depicts the volume and sensuality of form in subjects.

HIS ART WORKS

We can see his masterpieces not only in Colombia, but in many cities in the world. For example the Sculpture CAT in Barcelona,  the Sculpture Roman Warrior in Yerevan, Armenia and Man on Horse in Jerusalem.  
Museo Botero in Bogotá has 123 pieces of his work. We can enjoy them forgetting the time.

(Museo Botero)

Do you want to see his works? I prepared the virtual tour on my blog.