“Transforming physical exaggeration into a universal silence, Fernando Botero embarks on a journey of volume and emotion, stretching from her roots in Colombia to the deepest contradictions of humanity.”
Fernando Botero received training in bullfighting during his childhood and produced one of his first works when he began depicting the events that took place there. In later times, the violence inherent in the nature of the spectacles also found a place in his works. Botero states that his paintings initially start out like a cloud. When he thinks “the time has come,” he gives specific contours to his painting and ultimately describes the image as an explosion. Regarding the universality of the resulting works, he emphasizes America and states that any work produced by an American artist can be perceived as universal. In addition, he says that a person born in a third-world country must search for and find “their own sense of universality.” This is exactly what Botero searched for and found. He did this by blending his roots in Colombia with his classical art education while depicting his figures, which he brought to the forefront with their physical features. He painted scenes from daily life, political figures, and the contradiction of humanity, especially in reference to the events at Abu Ghraib Prison, which affected him deeply. While Botero blurs times with the physical exaggeration in his figures, he simultaneously creates both ironic and critical works. In fact, he wants to “fill the room with a single person.” He explains that the birth of this desire was somewhat metaphysical in origin and gained meaning later as follows: “You are attracted to something because of its shape or volume; even if I couldn’t understand why I moved in that direction, it was something I felt, and this is the first step you will take to discover yourself.” Botero embarked on a journey of self-discovery in pursuit of a feeling and created his universal style in this way.
Reference:
AN INTERVIEW WITH FERNANDO BOTERO [Date of Access: 3 December 2025]
Fernando Botero’s Journey from Aspiring Bullfighter to Art Market Powerhouse | Artsy [Date of Access: 3 December 2025]
Botero’s Art | Fernando Botero | TEDxBeijingSalon [Date of Access: 3 December 2025]
