Hola. This is Barbara, your guide to the latest cultural news from the Spanish-speaking world. Last Wednesday, the Embassy of Colombia in Switzerland and the Latin America Center at the University of Zurich organised a posthumous homage to Colombian painter Fernando Botero. This event joined the many ongoing tributes worldwide honouring the renowned artist who passed away on September 15th in Monaco. Attending this special occasion, I would like to share some insights from the event which was themed «Botero, el más colombiano de los artistas colombianos» (Botero, the most Colombian of Colombian artists). While the title might imply competition among Colombian artists and leaves me wondering which Colombian artist would like to join it, it is undeniable that Botero’s art evokes Colombia across global art circles. I could not find a definite source, but if I remember correctly, the title of the event even goes back to a self-description of the artist. Like many other Colombian artists, however, Botero had a complex relationship with his homeland, particularly with his conservative home town of Medellín.
Saludos y más saludos (greetings and more greetings)
Sergio Esteban Vélez, the head of cultural affairs at the Colombian embassy skillfully facilitated the evening. Johannes Kabatek, professor of Romance languages and director of the Latin America Center at the University of Zurich (LZZ) delivered a warm welcome address. The event also featured a heartfelt video message from Luca Wild Botero, the grandson of the late Fernando Botero expressing gratitude on behalf of the Botero family. The room was filled with members of the affluent Colombian community in Germanic Switzerland. Daniel Jositsch, recently elected Senator of the canton of Zurich got many special mentions. Jositsch feels a strong bond with Colombia and has been a dual Swiss-Colombian citizen since 2017.
The discussion panel
The organisers assembled three experts residing in Switzerland who are well-acquainted with the work of Fernando Botero. Mathias Rastorfer, co-owner of the international art gallery Gmurzynska , José Ignacio Arbeláez, involved in organising Botero’s significant donation to the Museo de Antioquia in Medellín, and Arturo Cuéllar-Nathan, a Colombian-Swiss art dealer and musician from Zug, shared anecdotes and insights on what made Botero an accomplished artist with a profound social conscience. Additionally, art collector Francia Escobar de Zárate, owner of a vital private collection of Colombian art, shared her journey of acquiring one of Botero’s Mona Lisas. The painting Mona Lisa, Age 12, holds immense significance in Botero’s career marking the launch of his international acclaim after being acquired by the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Botero’s distinct style
One captivating anecdote shared by Rastorfer lingered in my thoughts. Reflecting on my impressions at Botero's exhibition El Circo in 2015 at the Museo de Antioquia, I observed that Botero's portrayal of corpulent figures didn't simply stem from adoration of large forms. When I saw his slender wife Sophia Vari at his side, I realized that he did not use corpulent forms for his love of them, but that a different aesthetic purpose must be his true motivation. Rastorfer confirmed this impression by recounting one of the many press conferences where journalists want to learn more about why Botero paints chubby, oversized people. When questioned about his predilection for painting 'fat' subjects, Botero gestured to his slender wife beside him, stating, 'I don't love fat people. Look at my wife; she's skinny, and I love that about her. I paint fat people for their volume.' Despite the diverse subjects Botero depicted, be it still life, Colombian street scenes, or even contentious themes like Pablo Escobar or the Abu Ghraib prison scandal, his signature plump figures often exaggerated or distorted in their forms remain a constant. His trademark style aims to reintroduce figurativeness and sensuality to modern art.
It was a delightful evening that left me longing to return to Colombia shortly. It's been four years since my last visit. It was also comforting to see that, despite their wide political differences and diverse tastes, Botero is an artist whom Colombians can collectively agree on being proud of.
For those travelling to Colombia, a visit to both the Museo Botero in Bogotá and the Museo de Antioquia in Medellín is a must, housing a significant portion of Botero’s extensive artistic collection. It is wonderful that he has made a great part of his work accessible to everybody in Colombia. Share your experiences and the captivating artwork that caught your eye!
¡Saludos y hasta pronto!