CAF Artespacio pays posthumous tribute to Fernando Montes Peñaranda

(La Paz, February 25, 2011).- Beginning its program of exhibitions for 2011, the CAF Artespacio gallery pays a posthumous tribute to the internationally renowned Bolivian artist Fernando Montes Peñaranda (1930-2007) with the exhibition "Drawings," which presents – in 21 unseen works in carbon – the spirituality of the Andean world which has always inspired their creator.

At the opening of the show, the curator - artist Cecilia Lampo - said CAF wanted to pay homage to the work of one of the most important Bolivian artists, precursor of a style that focuses on the spirit and richness of the Andes.

"Montes succeeds in capturing the way the ancestral cultures managed space. In his drawings, the artist not only interprets the space but succeeds in reflecting the sensitivity of the Andean world, rescuing the spirit of the components of the landscape and the people who shape it," Lampo said.

The painter’s widow, Marcela Montes, said the exhibition would show the artist's creative process. "These drawings have never been on show. There are sketches done on site which he used as the basis for work in his studio in London. In each one of his works he wanted to express luminosity, space and silence. "

The exhibition is an opportunity for the people of La Paz to appreciate the enormous contribution the artist made to Bolivian art by leading the way in handling dimensions and symbolic interpretation, extracting the spirituality from the components. The exhibition is open to the public from February 24 to April 22. CAF Artespacio is located on Avenida Arce N º 2915 - San Jorge. Admission is free. Opening times are 9:00 to 12:00 and 15:00 to 18:00.

The artist

Fernando Montes Peñaranda was born in La Paz in 1930. His first professional activity in the arts was in film with Jorge Ruiz.

In 1959, the Spanish government granted him a scholarship to the Royal Academy of San Fernando; the same year he represented Bolivia in the 5th Sao Paulo Biennial (Brazil). In 1960 he entered Saint Martin's Art School in London.

In 1977 Montes won first prize in Painting at the II IMBO Biennial held in La Paz, Bolivia. In 1993 he was elected academician of the Italian Archeological Academy, Rome. In 1999 he represented Bolivia at the 48th Venice Biennial and a retrospective of his work was held at the National Art Museum in La Paz.

The artist has exhibited his works extensively in Europe, America and Japan and his art is represented in public collections in Bolivia, England, Portugal, the United States and Japan.