Expreso Newspaper - “Expresiones” Magazine
30-Marzo-2010

COMPETITION JURY PRESENTED WITH WORKS
FROM 24 COUNTRIES IN GUAYAQUIL’S INTERNATIONAL BIENNALE

The work entitled Picnic, of subtle irony, is signed with only one name: Caguana. It displays the majesty of a jungle zone of Ecuador. In the forefront, three unarmed US soldiers, with American uniforms and helmets are seated in a semi-circle, having availed themselves of some fruit to share between them, while behind them in the jungle, emerges the threatening figure of another soldier in a creole uniform, aiming at them…

That is but one of the paintings that underwent the first part of the pre-curatorial phase by the jury of the International Biennale of Painting of Guayaquil. The event, the inauguration and prize-giving award of which will take place on April 28, has been organized for the second time by the Luis A. Noboa Naranjo Museum. But this year, it has become an international competition.
More than 300 national works were submitted to the competition, but paintings from 24 countries from South America, Europe, the United States and nations such as Turkey, Russia, Israel and Kosovo were also received.

The jury was officially introduced, and is made up of local artists Theo Constante, Mariela García and Larissa Marangoni, the US curator Joseph Roberts, and the Argentine, Alejandra Rossi, Vice-president of Sotheby’s New York, presumably the oldest international auction house in the world.

The jury are to select a maximum of 50 works for the exhibition, among which will be included the three prize-winning works and the three Honorable Mentions. The artist winning first place will receive $20,000; the second, $10,000; and the third, $5,000.
“Through the selection process, we are basing ourselves on painting that is good, that proves itself as art,” indicated the cultural commissioner, Mariela García. “The fact of being selected for an event of this category is, in itself, an encouragement, recognition,” she added.

According to Rossetti, the choice has been fairly unanimous: “we agreed rapidly.”
Among the national works that, up until Friday, had gone through the pre-curation process, were some of well-known personalities such as Cuban artist, Saidel Brito, last year’s winner of the Cuenca Biennale; Wilson Pacha from Quito; and Félix Aráuz, from Guayaquil. Local artists who have swept up all the local prizes in the last years, were also present.

For sculptor and jurist, Larissa Marangoni, these are “marvelous” works, in general, that are surprising in their formal quality, and in which the “contemporaneous aspect is also reflected.”
Nevertheless, dozens of painting were rejected by the jury on the first floor of the Museum. The media did not have access to the second floor room, where the international works will be put on display.
According to the organizers, the Biennale has been arranged with the aim of strengthening friendship amongst all peoples the world over and to celebrate their creative capacities.

PUBLISHED BY Expreso Newspaper, “Expresiones” Magazine OF ECUADOR
30 March 2010