Botero: Magic in Full Form

Bunkamura Museum of Art

Finished

Artists

Fernando Botero

The Columbian painter Fernando Botero (b. 1932), highly acclaimed in Europe and the United States since the late 1950s, is now considered globally one of the most important contemporary artists. In 1963, when Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" was exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, Botero's "Mona Lisa at 12" (*not shown in this exhibition) was displayed in MoMA’s entrance hall.

What characterizes Botero's art is that all shapes in his works can be described as “puffy.” His paintings are full of people, animals, and fruits swollen up as if fully ripe. Even musical instruments and household items are portrayed in ballooned states. These voluptuous subjects contain complex connotations of sensuality, humor, and irony, appealing powerfully to the viewer's various senses. This is the unique "magic" of Botero and the reason why he continues to attract attention around the world.

In 2022, the year of Botero’s 90th birthday, this exhibition will be held under the supervision of Botero himself. It will consist of a total of 70 works, including oil paintings, watercolors, and drawings from his early career to recent years. It is a valuable opportunity to have a new encounter with Botero.

Schedule

Apr 29 (Fri) 2022-Jul 3 (Sun) 2022