Fernando Botero is a master painter in the world of Latin American art. He is famous for sticking to his own style, so-called “curviness aesthetics,” where he paints “fat figures.” His works of art feature heavy, stout people in a way that the solemnity of classic art changes into a burst of laughter.

Seoul will host a special exhibition showcasing 90 of the artist’s signature works of art at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul starting on July 11.

The Fernando Botero exhibition will display a range of the Colombian artist’s works, from works he painted during and after the 1970s, the time when people started recognizing him, through to works that have placed him in the ranks of master artists who specialize in Latin American art.




The works here will be displayed in four sections: still-life paintings, parodies of classic paintings, the life of and the people of Latin America and, lastly, bullfights and circuses. In some of his still-life paintings, the artist focused on expressing the “fullness” of things, such as fruit, musical instruments and flowers, magnifying the subjects as he pleased.

The most noteworthy painting is his “Mona Lisa Aged 12” painted in 1959, an imaginative painting which turns Mona Lisa, a famous figure painted by Leonardo da Vinci, into a young, chubby pre-teen. The painting brought him fame as an artist worldwide. The upcoming exhibit will spotlight some of his famous homages, including the “Mona Lisa,” to masterpieces by Velazquez, Rubens, van Gogh and van Eyck.

The 2001 work “Ballerina,” too, is a parody of paintings that feature ballerinas practicing at the barre, particularly those by French painter Edgar Degas. In the painting, an exaggerated, full-figured ballerina practicing against a mirror will send viewers into laughter.



In some of his paintings the artist also embraced vivid looks that give a glimpse into the daily life of his home country, Colombia, including a baroque cathedral, a small church, the clergy, strollers and dancers, all with the use of his unique palette. Among the artist’s repeated themes include bullfights, part of traditions and part of life in many Latin American countries. The artist also often drew scenes from circuses, tracing back to what he saw when he visited a circus in Medellin, where he grew up, in his childhood.

The Seoul exhibition will continue until October 4.




By Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: the Seoul Arts Center
jiae5853@korea.kr