TRIBUTE TO ARTIST OWSALDO VIGAS BY HIS SON LORENZO

A collection of works created by the artist in the 1950s while living in Paris and from 1969 to 1976 when he lived in Venezuela.  This exhibition is part of a series of tributes in various cities and continents to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Oswaldo Vigas (1923-2014), recognized as one of the most prolific and influential Latin American painters in the world.

Paintings between Latin America, Africa and Europe will kick off an extensive schedule of activities at the international level over the next 12 months, in collaboration with several institutions and museums. The worldwide celebrations will be organized by the Oswaldo Vigas Foundation.

It is a tribute to the artist by his son, award-winning filmmaker Lorenzo Vigas, seen through the fraternal lens of his father-son relationship: "My father's art was always interwoven with the primitive roots of Latin American culture, yet he is no longer seen simply as a 'Latin American artist,' he is now recognized as a universal modern artist."

One of the most prolific and influential Venezuelan painters of the 20th century, Oswaldo Vigas was recognized for his vision of the Americas. When interviewed in the 1950s and 1960s, Vigas compared his art to his homeland: "America is a cosmos. Our continent is full of dark signs and indications: telluric signs and magic that are hidden components of our condition. While revealing something to us, these symbols also engage us in an unsettling world of effervescence. The intention of my painting is to reach them, interpret them and translate them into new alerts. My paintings are halfway between Latin America, Africa and Europe".

A self-taught painter and muralist, Oswaldo Vigas' work includes paintings, sculptures, engravings, drawings, ceramics and tapestries. The artist participated in more than one hundred solo exhibitions, and his work is part of numerous public institutions and private collections around the world. A modernist who masterfully blended elements of cubism, surrealism, constructivism and neo-figuration, each painting is imbued with the constant exploration of his mestizo identity. Pre-Columbian lines and figurations can easily be seen in his work. Her affinity for the female form and her strong, gestural style are characteristic of his work.