The Starting Point of Botero's Exaggerated Human Proportions...

Noblesse Collection, Botero Solo Exhibition 'Volume'

The figures painted by Fernando Botero are full of wit. Each one is plump and sensual. He playfully reinterprets cultural icons. It is a sharp critique of society. By exaggerating human proportions, he mocks institutionalized norms and emphasizes his message with hefty physiques. The targets of his criticism are the suffering endured by the Colombian people during guerrilla warfare and the social inequalities that resulted. His works evoke the war horrors and destruction depicted by Francisco Goya, George Grosz, and Pablo Picasso.

Works denouncing inequality and oppression are being exhibited domestically. Noblesse Collection in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, is holding Botero’s solo exhibition "Volume" until the 9th of next month. It introduces eight paintings that exaggerate the forms of people and objects. The most notable piece is "Still Life with Guitar," a still life of a South American guitar mandolin. It is considered a starting point for its unbalanced proportions and unfamiliar volume. The collection explained, "It is said that a paint drop accidentally fell on the mandolin, creating a mark that looked like a small hole," adding, "This made us realize that even with the same object, changing the size ratio of its components creates a distinctly different impression."

Some works showcase extraordinary artistic imagination. "Picador y Banderillero," inspired by bullfighting, is a prime example. Botero attended a bullfighting school as a child. He was more captivated by the bullfighters’ costumes and the colors of the arena flags than by the bullfighting techniques. Other must-see works include "Man with Horse," symbolizing his cultural roots, and "Fiesta Nacional," evoking nostalgia with images of the village where he spent his childhood. All are interpreted within the contexts of magical realism and neo-figurativism. The collection stated, "They overturn conventional notions of proportion and encourage viewers to see the world from a new perspective," adding, "Especially, the caricatured expressions help us find hidden hope in our lives."

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