The Museum of Contemporary Art at Deoksugung is showcasing eighty-nine paintings and three bronze sculptures by Columbian artist Fernando Botero. The exhibition opened on June 30th and will run until September 17th. Botero is best known for inflating the proportions of objects and people, from his still life work, to recreations of great works by Picasso, Da Vinci, Ruebens, Velasquez, and Goya in his pieces which critique Latin American culture, and Colombian society in particular. Rather than painting “fat people”, Botero explains: “My stylistic goal lies in expanding scale. By doing so, I can increase the space to allow for use of more color and I can better convey the sensuality, richness and voluptuousness of form that I wish to express.” Throughout his work, Botero has defended his manipulation of scale in his sometimes whimsical reproductions and satirical depictions of Latin American culture. For Botero, style and form wield more powerful impressions than themes and the portrayal of individual emotions. The exhibit in Seoul includes Botero’s reproduction of works by Goya, Velazquez, Picasso, and includes his more humourous take on Ruben’s “Rape of Europa”. In the “Latin Life” and “Latin People” collections, Botero paints people of incongruent proportions to comment on the  perceptions and power-relationships in Colombian society. In his distinctive style, he depicts the multi-racial and conservative dynamics, as well as critiques the social inequalities that existed in the country at the time.  Meanwhile, Botero’s use of colour references Colombia’s national colours, but reflects the vibrant Latin American landscape in general.

What makes the Botero exhibit that much more appealing is that even today he continues to radically express social injustices. In the late 1990′s he was deeply influenced by the drug-related guerrilla warfare that was taking place in Colombia. His work became darker as his paintings began to focus on the kidnappings, death, torture, and massacres in the region at the time. Botero’s most recent collection of works, which depicts the abuse at Abu Grahib, is not featured in this summer’s exhibition. For more on Botero’s controversial Abu Grahib collection check out this interview with Botero at the University of California Berkely.

The Botero Exhibit is at the Museum of Contemporary Art at Deoksugung. The exhibit is open from 9 to 6pm Tuesday through Thursday, and 9 to 8:30pm Friday to Sunday. The museum is closed on Sunday. Admission is w10000 for adults and w4000 for children. Purchase your ticket at the Deoksu Palace (Deoksugung) gates. English audio-guides are available for 3,00owon. To get to Deoksugung, go to City Hall Station (Line 1&2) and take Exit 1 or 2. Walk straight for about 5 minutes, Deoksugung is on your left.

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