Saturday, February 23, 2013

The Epocs of Colombian Art


The Museo Nacional in Bogotá has this exhibition about chapters in Colombian art, featuring these powerful paintings by Enrique Grau and Luis Acuña. The exhibition labels these works indigenista and muralista, with lots of influence from Mexican muralistas.

By Enrique Grau

By Enrique Grau

An indigenous face, by Enrique Grau

By Enrique Grau

A Young Communist, by Enrique Grau

Bathers, by Luis Alberto Acuña.

A gold panner relaxing, by Pedro Nel Gomez. 
A contrasting portrait by Adolfo Samper Bernal of two upper class Colombian women, apparently relatives of the artist.
Other paintings show European influence in Colombian art, according to the exhibit. Ironically, the European influence came back to Colombia by way of United States government financing. The Colombian government sent young Colombian artists to study in Europe using money paid to Colombia by the United States in compensation for helping Panama, once a Colombian province, become independent.




A 'neo-costumbrista painting.



And these sculptures are striking, altho I'm not sure of the artists.







By Mike Ceaser, of Bogotá Bike Tours

2 comments:

mauricio forero l said...

So, you go from Back Into El Bronx, to this Mike????? What is going on Miguel??
Enrrique Grau?? Acuna?? this are among tho most academic and flat of Colombian artist of the past 100 years...They are bad dude, mediocre at best. Thank God you have not shown Botero.
Please, take your dog Parchita and go find art that is more exciting. I know that you prefer bohemian neighborhoods, but i think that if you look for galleries in the north or elsewhere you will find stuff that at least cause controversy or some reaction, but not boredom.

M. F.

Miguel said...

Art's in the eye of the beholder, isn't it?

Mike