From Colombia-Statues of Volume-Botero’s signature look

January 14, 2019 SouthAmerica

The singular widely recognized artist in Colombia is Fernando Botero, known for the “full” figures done in large bronze statues, but his work also uses the same style imparted in canvas and in sketches. The epicenter of his expression is found in historic center of Medellin, along Calle 53 and Avenida Carabobo at the L-shaped plaza named after the artist. Twenty-three large statues feature variable voluminous nude women, horses, animals, and male figures general as full nudes, police officers, or roman soldiers. Installments by Botero are found in other cities of Colombia, with a reclined nude woman in front of the cathedral in Cartagena a widely photographed display by the numerous tourist that come to this Colonial Caribbean port city- a full sentence for some full work. Botero statues are found in Santiago, Denver, Singapore, Barcelona, Berlin, and Jerusalem, to name a few cities. His exhibitions are shown in numerous countries around the world.

southamericatotheworld.com — Botero-Medellin

With the human nudes the broad proportions lend small appearing heads, and while the legs are massive, the buttocks bulbous, the other female and male parts are almost diminutive. Nude woman on a disproportional short and stocky bull, a nude woman with arms raised overhead stands upon a large head, the chubby sitting dog with tail curled up, the male nude standing upon a prone nude woman’s back, the chubby hand that nearly is displaying the middle finger to the entire city, a seated nude woman harpy, the perhaps iconic chubby horse used to illustrate Botero’s style, and the mounted policeman. The original Spanish names are: Adán, Eva, Caballo, Mujer con espejo, Mujer sentada, Mujer, Mujer con fruta, Gato, Perro, Esfinge, Mujer vestida, Maternidad, Mujer reclinada, Hombre vestido, Hombre caminante, Rapto de Europa, Hombre a caballo, Pensamiento, Cabeza, Soldado romano, and Caballo con bridas. The names are all far smaller than the image presented.

Fernando Botero’s work is one of the more recognizable of the South American artists. It is something we struggle with, not finding it particularly attractive, instead it seems more an oddity and a puzzle that after seeing a wide selection of his work one is left asking why? Perhaps that is the genius in marketing. Or perhaps many people find comfort in the obese form. This full look is not something we would display at home. Maybe city administrators prefer the more abstract shapes for park displays. Whatever the explanation is for the phenomenon of Botero’s bulbous over-inflated appearing works his style has marked Colombia with his interpretation of art.