Features
Fernando Botero featured on 传送门
An upcoming exhibition of Fernando Botero happening on 15 October 2015.
ShareBy Ode To Art
Upcoming Exhibitions: An Exhibition of
the Work of Fernando Botero Opens in November at the National Museum
On the afternoon of 15 October 2015, the “Botero in China – An Exhibition of the Work of Fernando Botero” press conference will commence at Parkview Green in Beijing. The exhibition officially opens on the 20th of November at the National Museum of China. Fernando Botero (son of artist Fernando Botero), Colombian ambassador H.E. Carmenza Jaramillo, project director of “Botero in China” Juan Camilo Montana, China Arts and Entertainment Group (CAEG) American Division Director Yin Peng, exhibition curator Zhang Ming Er and other attendees will be present at the press conference.
The year 2015 marks 35 years of diplomatic relations between China and Colombia. Famous Colombian artist Botero is a representational painter rooted in the Western tradition, and is one of the foremost living artists in the world. He has consistently pursued explorations of volume and colour, and this exhibition will showcase 81 large-scale oil paintings and 14 large sketches on canvas.
Who is Botero?
On the afternoon of 15 October 2015, the “Botero in China – An Exhibition of the Work of Fernando Botero” press conference will commence at Parkview Green in Beijing. The exhibition officially opens on the 20th of November at the National Museum of China. Fernando Botero (son of artist Fernando Botero), Colombian ambassador H.E. Carmenza Jaramillo, project director of “Botero in China” Juan Camilo Montana, China Arts and Entertainment Group (CAEG) American Division Director Yin Peng, exhibition curator Zhang Ming Er and other attendees will be present at the press conference.
The year 2015 marks 35 years of diplomatic relations between China and Colombia. Famous Colombian artist Botero is a representational painter rooted in the Western tradition, and is one of the foremost living artists in the world. He has consistently pursued explorations of volume and colour, and this exhibition will showcase 81 large-scale oil paintings and 14 large sketches on canvas.
Who is Botero?
Botero was born in 1932, in Columbia (Medellin), and
he turns 83 this year. The exhibition opens during the period that Botero will
be visiting China, and will be held at the National Museum of China. The inspiration for his early oil paintings and
sketches stemmed from Gustave Doré’s “Divine Comedy” prints and posters
depicting bullfighting. In the course of his career, he has touched upon a
multitude of topics ranging from still life, Latin American traditions, bullfighting and the
circus. He is considered the most important living artist in the world today.
His works have been showcased in some of the most important museums and
exhibition venues in the world, including the Hermitage Museum in St.
Petersburg and the Piazza della Signora in Florence, Italy. He is the only
artist to have ever been invited to create a memorial sculpture, displayed
along the Champs-Élysées in Paris.
Botero’s aesthetic style is distinctive and separate from most other artists, his pieces speak a vivid and unique artistic language and possess superior visual appeal. He makes use of vibrant colours, an exaggerated sense of volume, a natural expansion of outlines and exercises complete freedom in terms of body proportions. When he was questioned on why he chose to depict chubby people as his main subjects, he replied, “I am not painting fat images, but am trying to use a realistic theme to convey the beauty and constructive quality of volume. Art is continually evolving and exaggerated, it has nothing to do with larger-sized individuals. Aside from humans, the animals, fruits and musicians that I paint are also corpulent.”
Matador, Botero, 2002, oil on canvas, 210 x 191 cm
What will be on display for "Botero in China?
Botero in China – The Work of Fernando Botero
Exhibition Date: 2015/11/20 – 2016/1/2
Venue: National Museum of China
“Botero in China – The Work of Fernando Botero” will open at the National Museum of China on the 20 November 2015. For the exhibition, a selection of close to a hundred symbolic pieces of the artist’s work in the 20th century from the 70s up till today will be displayed. The exhibition is split into six sections: Life in Latin America, Reinterpreting the Classics, Still Life, Bullfighting, The Circus and Sketches which all represent the artistic journey of Botero. The arrangement of the exhibition space draws inspiration from the concept of traditional Chinese forests where one finds respite and secluded spots of peace by following narrow, winding paths.
Deputy Director of the National Museum of China, Chen Lu Sheng, states, “We are delighted to welcome Master Botero for his first exhibition in China, and the opportunity to introduce the most important living artist worldwide to the citizens of China. His unique artistic style and the language of his voluptuous forms serve to meaningfully enhance our cultural knowledge.
“I’m excited to arrive in China to share my work with the Chinese audience and gain a deeper understanding of this country as I have much respect and admiration for Chinese culture, sculpture and paintings,” Botero says. “I am extremely honoured and excited for the exhibition at the National Museum of China and I hope the Chinese viewers will be able to appreciate my work.”
Arnolfini, Botero reproduces Van Eyck’s works, 2006, oil on canvas, 205 x 165 cm
The original article in Mandarin is available here.
Botero’s aesthetic style is distinctive and separate from most other artists, his pieces speak a vivid and unique artistic language and possess superior visual appeal. He makes use of vibrant colours, an exaggerated sense of volume, a natural expansion of outlines and exercises complete freedom in terms of body proportions. When he was questioned on why he chose to depict chubby people as his main subjects, he replied, “I am not painting fat images, but am trying to use a realistic theme to convey the beauty and constructive quality of volume. Art is continually evolving and exaggerated, it has nothing to do with larger-sized individuals. Aside from humans, the animals, fruits and musicians that I paint are also corpulent.”
Matador, Botero, 2002, oil on canvas, 210 x 191 cm
What will be on display for "Botero in China?
Botero in China – The Work of Fernando Botero
Exhibition Date: 2015/11/20 – 2016/1/2
Venue: National Museum of China
“Botero in China – The Work of Fernando Botero” will open at the National Museum of China on the 20 November 2015. For the exhibition, a selection of close to a hundred symbolic pieces of the artist’s work in the 20th century from the 70s up till today will be displayed. The exhibition is split into six sections: Life in Latin America, Reinterpreting the Classics, Still Life, Bullfighting, The Circus and Sketches which all represent the artistic journey of Botero. The arrangement of the exhibition space draws inspiration from the concept of traditional Chinese forests where one finds respite and secluded spots of peace by following narrow, winding paths.
Deputy Director of the National Museum of China, Chen Lu Sheng, states, “We are delighted to welcome Master Botero for his first exhibition in China, and the opportunity to introduce the most important living artist worldwide to the citizens of China. His unique artistic style and the language of his voluptuous forms serve to meaningfully enhance our cultural knowledge.
“I’m excited to arrive in China to share my work with the Chinese audience and gain a deeper understanding of this country as I have much respect and admiration for Chinese culture, sculpture and paintings,” Botero says. “I am extremely honoured and excited for the exhibition at the National Museum of China and I hope the Chinese viewers will be able to appreciate my work.”
Arnolfini, Botero reproduces Van Eyck’s works, 2006, oil on canvas, 205 x 165 cm
The original article in Mandarin is available here.