Museo de Botero (Botero Museum) in Bogota, capital city of Colombia, South America. Panorama showing Mona Lisa aged twelve, by artist Fernando Botero.
Photo by diego_cue in Simple Wikipedia
The first thing you see when you walk into the museum is Botero's sculpture, the hand.
Big BirdI first saw a Botero sculpture of the little fat little black bird, titled Big Bird, a blackbird, not a pigeon, whatever, by the waterfront, the walkway along the river, in the Central Business District in Singapore.
Huge Horse
Afterwards I came across the imposing strong black horse near Buona Vista which means good view, in an enclosed courtyard beside the Buona Vista MRT railway station.
Sculptor and Painter, Botero
When I looked up Botero in Wikipedia I discovered he was also a painter but I didn't take much notice of that. Now I have switched up my laptop and it magically remembers I did previous searches for Botero and it hopefully sends me photos and advertisements on Botero.
Google Is Watching You
You might think that having Google watching you and your browsing and buying habits is creepy and annoying, because often when you have just bought something you want to move on, not going through buyer's remorse seeing all the things you could have bought - even cheaper, What a waste of your time and the advertiser's. But in this instance I was delighted to see a panel of pictures by Botero.
Why Should Painters Reinvent The Wheel?
I had noticed previously that he had painted an updated, modernised Mona Lisa. He painted it when he moved from South America to Paris, France, in Europe (as opposed to Paris, Texas) with other artists. He spent time in the Louvre (where else) looking at the most famous painting in the Louvre, by Italian Leonardo De Vinci. As is the habit of art students, he copied famous paintings, but improsed his own style.
On taking a look at the pictures I see he has found a series of famous paintings and imposed his own style on them, plump people as well as plump animals. As with parodies of songs, this means he has the subject or plot already selected. An endless supply of ideas.
His own work is surprising because it gives a new take on something already known. Moreover, he has pre-arranged publicity because you already know the subject.
Surprise or Shock
To see a plump Mona Lisa is a surprise. To see a fat Jesus is a shock. A first. Like it, or loathe it, you are likely to remember it.
Marketing Magic
Furthermore, making variations on already well known paintings is an excellent marketing ploy. Why? First, because when anybody searches for a famous artwork, up pops his variation.Secondly, as in my case, when buyers are looking for Botero, the advertisers will chase lots of potential buyers with new but already familiar themes.
Buying Sculptures
A Botero sculpture can be bought, but you need to be a billionaire, or have access to funds and buy on behalf of a major gallery or buyer who wants to install a sculpture in a public place, to enhance the city, or mpress buyers, borrowers and lenders approaching your bank or business.However, artwork to hang on the wall at home comes at a more affordable price and needs less space.
Once somebody else has invested the money, an enormous amount of money, in a sculpture in a public place, you can enjoy seeing it for free. Free look. Free picture. Free selfie.
Add an objective to a stroll, your daily exercise. Find a place to take a visitor which does not cost you or them money. Pick target and achievement for your morning, afternoon or day out.
Broadgate Venus by Mike Quinn, in Wikipedia.
Seeing Sculptures
UK
Broadgate Venus near Liverpool Street station, London, England, UK
Buying Botero Artwork
Having discovered Botero artwork on the internet, I now realise you don't have to travel the world to see Botero. However, it is good to see his sculptures in real life, to get a sense of the scale. The little bird in particular is interesting. We see birds as small; but his bird is big.
Travel Tips - Where to see Botero Sculpture
Where to see Botero artwork
Singapore
Big Bird
Horse
Spain
Madrid
Barcelona - Cat by Botero
USA
LATIN AMERICA - COLOMBIA
Dog sculpture - Medellin, Colombia
Where to see and buy Botero originals and reproductions
Singapore Gallery
https://www.operagallery.com/fernando-botero
Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Fernando-Botero-First-Canvas-Rolled/dp/B01G97004S
Ebay
https://www.ebay.com.sg/b/Fernando-Botero-Art-Paintings/
Lazada
https://www.lazada.sg/products/fernando-botero-president-size-x-gallery-wrapped-canvas-art-print-wall-decor-
Ezbuy
Mona Lisa Repro
https://ezbuy.sg/product/420788207.html
TRAVEL
To see the original of the Mona Lisa, go to The Louvre in Paris, France.
COUNTRY TRAVEL
COLOMBIA, SOUTH AMERICA
Mona Lisa painting.
France
visitfrance.co.uk
SPAIN
spain.info.en
USA
visittheusa.co.uk
Singapore
https://wikitravel.org/en/Colombia
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/
UK
visitlondon.com
visitbritain.com
visitbritain.org
AIRLINE
Singapore Airlines - frequently wins awards
singaporeair.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Angela Lansbury is a travel writer, photographer, researcher, author and speaker and teacher of English and other languages.
For handy Spanish For the Traveller see earlier post.
I have several popular posts on countries around the world including Spain, and learning Spanish. Please share links to your favourite posts.
https://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2019/11/statues-to-see-for-free-in-botero-plaza.html
About The Author
Angela Lansbury
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