African Bullets and Honey | Martin Kimani’s Blog

Colombia is a revelation. Let us start with the central bank webpage advertising an art collection open to the public. Where else is that done?

“Exhibits Permanent Banco de la República Art Collection consisting of nearly 3,000 paintings, sculptures and assembly of Colombian and Latin American masters from the XVI century to our days. Visitors may appreciate a selection of Colombian painters works, for instance Gregorio Vázquez de Arce y Ceballos, the most important Colony painter, Alejandro Obregón, Enrique Grau, Latin American as Rufino Tamayo, David Alfaro Siqueiros and many other globally renowned.”

I visited the museums today, in search of Fernando Botero’s work of course. It was stunning. Colombian artists hanging next to work by Lucian Freud, Bacon, Monet, Max Ernst, De Kooning. The Colombians’ work is so strong and beautiful and I felt an overwhelming respect and affection for a Bogota with the confidence and sense of self to celebrate its artists and hold them up so high. (Link to some of the international artists displayed and another one on Botero who right now is by far my favorite painter.) Will post some photos of Bogota and Cartagena when I get the chance to download them…