The Guayaquil Biennale of Painting opens to foreigners - El Universo Newspaper
24-Marzo-2010

This Friday, March 26, is the deadline for the submission of artistic works competing in the second edition of the Guayaquil Biennale of Painting. To date, more than 120 works have been received, and are being kept in the different rooms of the Luis A. Noboa Naranjo Museum, organizers of the activity.

José Landín, curator of the event, indicates that intense effort with the embassies has taken place, and “the cooperation has had result, because plenty of works from foreign artists have arrived.” There are participants from Turkey, Italy, Panama, Peru, Venezuela, Switzerland, Germany, the United States, the Dominican Republic, Israel, Uruguay, Spain and Chile.

The Israeli artist, Igal Fedida, visited the country two weeks ago in order to submit his work, together with that of Judith Gashghaie, who lives in Miami.

Landín also confirms that works are to arrive from Holland, Argentina, Kosovo, Portugal and Colombia. From Ecuador, there are paintings from the provinces of Guayas, Pichincha, El Oro, Imbabura, Azuay, Bolívar, Loja, Chimborazo, and others.

The character of this year’s Biennale is international, in comparison to the first edition, in which principally Ecuadorian works participated. “We wanted to expand because we want this competition to become a defining event of the city, for both the country and abroad. Guayaquil needs to define itself as a city that supports art via its own artists and activities, in which many Ecuadorian and foreign artists are interested in taking part,” added Landín.

He mentioned that the works demonstrated “a diversity of styles, which indicated that the artists feel the need to explore, to experiment with the pictorial genre.” It includes surrealist, realist, impressionist, figurative, abstract, expressionist and neoexpressionist works.

Regulations include that works for the competition be well-executed, museum-quality originals. Any technique and theme can be employed. The base needs to be of cloth or wood. Minimum dimensions: 50cm x 60cm. Maximum 160cm x 160cm.

The 5-member jury (two international and three Ecuadorians) will decide the admitted and winning works between March 26th and 27th.

Quito artist, Fanny Moscosco, is participating in the competition, having sent the works, Quito nocturno and Mar adentro. She points out that she decided to compete, “because it is a well-organized Biennale that is taking place in one of the most cultured cities in the country, Guayaquil.”

A further two works were sent to the event by national artist, Félix Aráuz, who returns, after 25 years, to participate in a painting competition. His works are entitled, Cabezas, and Dos mujeres lavándose los pies en un jardín. The former is an expressionist figurative painting; the latter, an abstract. Aráuz considers that this Biennale presents Guayaquil as a city that motivates artistic creation.

Notes

Works for the Biennale of Painting of Guayaquil are to be sent to P. Icaza 302 and G. Córdova, (corner), Seguros Cóndor Building, 1st floor.

The jury’s verdict will be announced at the inauguration of the Biennale on April 28. First Place will win US $20,000; Second Place, US $10,000; Third Place, US $ 5,000. Each one will receive a diploma, and there will be three Honorable Mentions.