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.
–Fernando Botero
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I don’t know much about artist Fernando Botero, who was born in 1932 in Medellin, Colombia. But it is obvious that his work represents his attraction to a certain kind of form– the round and the over-sized. While I would not count him among my favorites, I am impressed by the impression his work makes, how you never doubt that a painting or sculpture is his work..
His work is boldly and instantly identifiable. And that is saying a lot.
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I think a lot of artists struggle in finding that certain kind of form that speaks to them intuitively, a form that becomes part of their true voice. Botero found it in the form of rotund figures and listened to his intuition. I think the impressive body of work he created over his long career justifies his decision. 
I saw an exhibit of Botero’s large sculptures at the Art Institute of Chicago over 20 years ago (I’ve been unable to find the year of that exhibit online). The number of pieces, the scale of those pieces, and the opportunity to see them on the green grass/concrete around the AIC was memorable. Small galleries across the streets around the AIC exhibited smaller work in the same and different mediums of his work. One of the most memorable exhibitions I’ve viewed.
Love the public pieces of his in San Juan! His work is so playful, yet serious in referencing art history and culture. He adds to the dialogue of painting and sculpture by adding his own, very signature style! That is no small feat!
You’re absolutely right that his work adds to the dialogue of art. It produces some sort of visceral response in almost everyone.
On Mon, Jan 29, 2018 at 12:16 PM, Redtree Times wrote:
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