Fernando Botero, En La Plaza, 1987, oil on canvas, 182.9 x 130.5 cm
Opera Gallery in Singapore is pleased to present ‘Homage to Botero,’ a solo exhibition celebrating the extraordinary life and artistic legacy of the late Colombian master, Fernando Botero (1932–2023). Presented during Singapore Art Week 2025, this monumental exhibition presents paintings, sculptures, and works on paper showcasing the artist’s iconic “Boterismo” aesthetic characterised by whimsical, voluminous figures that demonstrate mastery of form with astute social critique ranging in tone from humorous to sensual to starkly political.
In this exhibition, Botero’s evocative paintings, sculptures, and drawings tell a nuanced story about the artist’s life and incisive observations on society and culture, which were shaped both by his world travels as well as his Latin American heritage. Each artwork in the exhibition is a testament to his superb ability to bridge the playful and the profound–marrying a playful sense of whimsy with deeper reflections on life’s complexities – from joy and melancholy to beauty and excess.
The underpinnings of Botero’s aesthetic development and worldview began in Medellín, Colombia, where the artist was born in 1932. In this Postwar Colombian environment characterised by staunch Catholicism, social rigidity, and political instability, Botero began his artistic exploration–effectively combining motifs and inspiration drawn from his lived experience within Colombian culture and his appreciation for Renaissance and Baroque artists to establish his own distinctive artistic vocabulary.
As a visual poet of daily life, Botero’s pioneering figurative artworks, still life paintings and sculptures serve as vivid portrayals of the characters and scenes Botero encountered throughout his life. Through his portraits of everyday people, richly coloured still life compositions, or art historical reinterpretations, his work provides a profound reflection on the richness and contradictions of daily life, inviting viewers to reconsider societal norms—of beauty, power, and identity—while offering a celebration of the ordinary.
Venue: Opera Gallery Singapore, 2 Orchard Turn # 02-16, ION Orchard, Singapore 238801
When: 17 Jan - 16 Feb 2025, 11am - 8pm
