Fernando Botero’s VIACRUCIS

The ribbon-cutting ceremony of Colombian Fernando Botero’s exhibition, which includes paintings and works on paper, took place on Wednesday November 14 at Palacio de Ajuda’s  Galeria del Rey D. Luis I, Lisbon.

VIACRUCIS – La Pasión de Cristoshowcases artworks included in the most recent series created by Botero, makes up the program to be followed by the president of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, during his visit to Portugal, and is the result of the collaboration among the Portuguese government and Colombia’s Foreign Relations Ministry, Colombia’s embassy and the Museum of Antioquia. It’s all about a 61-artwork collection, which was previously exhibited in New York and Medellin, the artist’s hometown. This is the second time his work is showcased in Lisbon.

Botero, described by many people as the most popular and sought-after living Latin American artist in terms of international art market, confirms the singularity of his language with this display, though the theme moves from traditional painting to the representation of scenes related to the passion and death of Jesus.

This year has witnessed a series of exhibitions that has paid tribute to Botero’s 80th birthday in Mexico DF, Sao Paulo, Assisi, Santiago de Chile, Bogota, among other cities in America and Europe. Likewise, the presidency of Colombia announced a decree in which it catalogues Botero’s 479 artworks kept in Colombian soil as "national cultural interest", thus implying measures for their protection, preservation and promotion by the State.

VIACRUCIS… is going to be open to the public through January 27, 2013.

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