"One day that will make history" - This could be defined the conference organized on 21 October by Argentina Cultural Industries and the Comptroller General's Office, where for one week, forty of the drawings exhibit extraordinary Christian Collection Ravarino, "La Punta del Iceberg" curated by Edward Lucie-Smith and Massimo Scaringella . This collection, whose authenticity-and supported-has been questioned for more than ten years, consists of drawing independent, intense and essential, true works of art that are an inner reflection, a look back performing on one's own Francis Bacon, which is almost the last stage.
But what is unique about this day is not just the fact that we may discover little-known drawings, or that is being given in first in Buenos Aires and throughout Latin America. What makes it unique is that we walked through the eyes of those who was one of the great friends of Bacon, one of the few to the painter "counted on the fingers of one hand" ... the friend with whom he shared anecdotes , partying, art, moods, life and even the friend who called to identify his body lifeless on a night in 1992, Madrid. It is, ultimately, the writer, painter and sculptor of international fame Horacio Sosa Cordero.
conversation with Horacio Sosa Cordero
"By pure chance, I came face to face with my friend talking from their strokes, from a previously unknown work for me and finally came to light, it deserves is in the best museums in the world to the delight of all. " Sosa Cordero said. After examining each, we offered to give a talk about it, gradually deepening the work, personality and friendship that joined Francis Bacon for forty years. It is he who takes us inside, then the life of one of the most brilliant artists of the century XX. He, along with Francis Bacon, were those who made this day a day "most historic" .
conversation with Horacio Sosa Cordero
You, Horacio Sosa Cordero, was a close friend of Francis Bacon, the proof is, the portraits he made of you. How did this friendship? And how would you describe Bacon?
A Francis I met him in the 60's, as a young artist living in London. We had a mutual friend, David Sylvester, and so began a great friendship.
What was Bacon? He was a puzzling, unpredictable, charisma ... but also very bad temper, especially when asking him questions he did not like. For example, you could not talk about painting, although the great whom he admired, Velazquez, Picasso or our good friend Alberto Giacometti. Anyway, it was puzzling, unsociable, irritable, representing all points: it could make a scene before the Queen of England or be a true gentleman of a vagabond. And above all, was a close friend of his friends. Now that I look at this late self-portrait of his, made in 1980, I remember I once asked: "Why always so many self-portraits, Francis?". And he answered: "And ... what do you want? No I have many people to paint, I know many people. Furthermore, with this face pudding-face that I have ... so I get. "
The attribution of the drawings in this exhibition of Francis Bacon has been the subject of controversy for more than ten years, especially following the acceptance general that "Bacon painted only, not draw. " What is your opinion?
First of all, it is not an opinion. And I can not speak of "attributing" the drawings to Bacon, as an "attribution" implies that one is not sure. And here, "and this is a fact we are dealing with authentic drawings of Bacon, and that's not debatable, nor is arguably the fact that he himself drew.
The great confusion about their drawings the artist created, Michael Ayrton who wrote a note Burlington Magazine Review of Art, which states that "Bacon could not draw.", It said one critic, a mediocre artist. Therefore, one day, Bacon is this street artist, and very angry, scolds him, saying: "And you do know if I draw?".
drawing course, only most of the time were stored in folders (could not teach them all a commitment I had with some commercial galleries), or broke and left abandoned in their "brothel" atelier in London. His studio: that place that I was privileged to attend almost daily, as people who visited him could count only on the fingers of one hand.
Turning to the drawings, Francis Bacon makes more than 300, you might call "drawings secrets "of Francis Bacon, as there are" secret drawings of Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo Buonarroti, or Caravaggio. And there are drawings that gives to his friends and lovers. And Ravarino, in this case, is the repository of all these drawings that Bacon drew, either in his studio in London or Bologna, Venice or elsewhere, in all those trips he made to Italy.
It is definitely an honor to watch this collection of Christian Ravarino these "drawings secrets' of his own. This is a sample that could be in any international museum like the Metropolitan Museum, the Tate Gallery or the Louvre. But today is here in Buenos Aires, becoming a first for Latin America.
"would highlight some of the drawings in the collection?
First of all, I should say that drawings are suddenly and rapidly implemented, and which affords a reflection in his works, a return to consistent themes: self-portraits and portraits of the crucifixion, the Popes ... De Indeed, the representation of Pope Innocent X after Velazquez, is a constant in the work of Francis Bacon, datándose his first painting about 1947. This drawing in particular, carried out between 70-80, is a masterpiece where you can see all consequences of his earlier paintings, as seen in the rest of the collection: the nervous character of its lines, strains, simple compositions, their atmospheres, the hint ... It reminds me of when asked about his painting, to he answered me: "Horace, my painting is, above all, in a game. And at the chance. And in pure intuition. The game, and chance, and how to capture the look with a sum of sensations. " Bacon's words.
could say that Bacon's work was steeped in irrational feelings in force contained in intuition, "fate", perhaps. But ... what about your life?
Francis Bacon was always surrounded by fate, as he said. All his best friends and lovers were dying one after another. And so it was falling, day after day, year after year, alone. Therefore, in his enigmatic life, he always said "I'm surrounded by death." I am one of the few friends left alive Bacon.
He loved life, casino, chat rooms, fine dining, drinking, partying, bars ... I remember, for example, the first trip he took to Madrid, which he did with me. "Horacio, take me to Spain." And there we were, because he loved bullfights. Then he was in London, Paris I, and we are right on Madrid. From then took the plane and traveled many times to Madrid, taking forever to visit the Prado and watch their favorite painters: Goya, Velazquez and Picasso, in his last trip, in 92, went to Madrid together with his friend John Edward to attend an extraordinary exhibition of Velazquez. But he had a heart attack and he was interned in a clinic ... And he was never practicing or stepped on a church, put it in the clinical care of two nuns .... Well, there it dies. John Edward phoned me to Paris, and traveled to Madrid to identify the body and fix all those things that need to be addressed in such circumstances, as unpleasant and sad, being a friend.
How would you rate this collection of drawings of Bacon? Why is it so important?
believe that these drawings are of vital importance for the art and will open new avenues for young artists. Not only are important for the quality and performance, but because they mark the last period of Francis Bacon, in which he made the drawings with great thought and courage by checking all your work done earlier. I will say a few words of Bacon, because Bacon painting, or drawing, which was made- was a game. I will answer with these words of Francis: "All art is now a sort of game in which the man is distracted. And it's always good to say so: quite a game. I think in that sense, things have changed, and what is really fascinating is that this game will be harder for the artist, it will need to further deepen the game to make it something good. " Bacon's words, which are a great lesson for new artists and art adventure, XXI century
Horacio Sosa Cordero Spring 2010
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