April 21 - 23, 2023
A program of Cámara de Comercio de Bogotá
A cultural program of:
April 21 - 23, 2023
A program of Cámara de Comercio de Bogotá
A cultural program of:
LT Projects presents "Line Synthesis," an exhibition celebrating the artistic innovation of four iconic Latin American modernists: Jesús Rafael Soto, Omar Rayo, Santiago Cárdenas, and Carlos Rojas. Though divergent in style, these artists were united by their pioneering use of materials and forms. Soto and Rayo were masters of kinetic and optical art, creating mesmerizing compositions that seem to vibrate off the canvas. Cárdenas brought the natural world into abstraction through his tactile, earth-toned sculptures. Rojas explored geometric abstraction using industrial materials like Plexiglas and metal. Together, their works reflect Latin America's cultural richness and tireless avant-garde experimentation. The exhibition provides a long-overdue survey of these four creative titans, highlighting their relentless pursuit of the new against the tumultuous backdrop of mid-20th century Latin America. By juxtaposing these kindred artistic spirits, "Line Synthesis" illuminates the diversity and interconnectedness underpinning the region's modernism.
With the opening of the exhibition by Peruvian artist Jaime Miranda-Bambarén, the Leon Tovar Gallery presents an ephemeral project in Bogotá's iconic architectural landmark, the Torres Atrio. LT Projects emerges to offer a temporary space where prominent Latin American artists will be exhibited punctually in the hometown of the gallery owner.
This space represents an extension of the renowned program managed by Leon Tovar Gallery in New York, but it also aims to explore the contemporary world and expand its boundaries in the city where it all began.
Born in Ciudad Bolívar, Venezuela in 1923, Jesús Rafael Soto was a pioneering Venezuelan artist best known for his immersive installations that create dynamic and visually engaging environments. Soto's practice focused on exploring the relationship between art and the viewer, often incorporating movement and optical effects to challenge perceptual boundaries. Beyond first impressions, it becomes clear that Soto’s art is thoroughly enmeshed in the ambiguities of space and the flow of time. As viewing time elapses, it becomes clear the right angles of Soto’s squares are not as stable as we would like to believe, the metal rods dangling before patterned backgrounds are not as durable. These elements quiver and vibrate, making visible the constant change that defines the world around us as well as the impossibility of true stability in a universe defined by flux.
Born in 1937 in Bogotá, Colombia. Currently lives and works in Bogotá, Colombia. Santiago Cárdenas is primarily recognized for his iconic chalkboard paintings, colorful abstractions of everyday objects, and his masterful use of light and shadows. "My intention," reflects the artist, "is not to deceive or play with the viewer. I use illusionism to create a 'presence,' much like nature does." From Pop Art to the works of old masters of still life, Cárdenas has been influenced by multiple sources, including the works of Alex Katz, who was his professor during his Master's degree at Yale University. Refuting the conventional relationship between the viewer and artworks, the objects represented in Cárdenas's paintings aspire to provoke in the viewer a level of participation that goes beyond mere aesthetic contemplation, rather, they incite human interaction. Santiago Cárdenas's works have been part of numerous exhibitions worldwide and are found in important public collections, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York; the Museum of Fine Arts in Caracas, Venezuela; and the Rufino Tamayo Museum, Mexico City, Mexico.
Born in Roldanillo, Colombia 1928 and died in Palmira, Colombia 2010. Omar Rayo was a Colombian artist recognized for his blending of Op Art, abstraction, and Latin folklore and his pioneering optical kinetics in sculpture and paintings such as his Ritmocromías. His works often featured intricate geometric patterns and optical illusions, showcasing meticulous attention to detail. Rayo's practice delved into the exploration of visual perception, with an emphasis on creating vibrant and dynamic compositions that captivate the viewer.
Born in 1937 in Bogotá, Colombia. Currently lives and works in Bogotá, Colombia. Santiago Cárdenas is primarily recognized for his iconic chalkboard paintings, colorful abstractions of everyday objects, and his masterful use of light and shadows. "My intention," reflects the artist, "is not to deceive or play with the viewer. I use illusionism to create a 'presence,' much like nature does." From Pop Art to the works of old masters of still life, Cárdenas has been influenced by multiple sources, including the works of Alex Katz, who was his professor during his Master's degree at Yale University. Refuting the conventional relationship between the viewer and artworks, the objects represented in Cárdenas's paintings aspire to provoke in the viewer a level of participation that goes beyond mere aesthetic contemplation, rather, they incite human interaction. Santiago Cárdenas's works have been part of numerous exhibitions worldwide and are found in important public collections, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York; the Museum of Fine Arts in Caracas, Venezuela; and the Rufino Tamayo Museum, Mexico City, Mexico.
Born in 1937 in Bogotá, Colombia. Currently lives and works in Bogotá, Colombia. Santiago Cárdenas is primarily recognized for his iconic chalkboard paintings, colorful abstractions of everyday objects, and his masterful use of light and shadows. "My intention," reflects the artist, "is not to deceive or play with the viewer. I use illusionism to create a 'presence,' much like nature does." From Pop Art to the works of old masters of still life, Cárdenas has been influenced by multiple sources, including the works of Alex Katz, who was his professor during his Master's degree at Yale University. Refuting the conventional relationship between the viewer and artworks, the objects represented in Cárdenas's paintings aspire to provoke in the viewer a level of participation that goes beyond mere aesthetic contemplation, rather, they incite human interaction. Santiago Cárdenas's works have been part of numerous exhibitions worldwide and are found in important public collections, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York; the Museum of Fine Arts in Caracas, Venezuela; and the Rufino Tamayo Museum, Mexico City, Mexico.
Born in 1937 in Bogotá, Colombia. Currently lives and works in Bogotá, Colombia. Santiago Cárdenas is primarily recognized for his iconic chalkboard paintings, colorful abstractions of everyday objects, and his masterful use of light and shadows. "My intention," reflects the artist, "is not to deceive or play with the viewer. I use illusionism to create a 'presence,' much like nature does." From Pop Art to the works of old masters of still life, Cárdenas has been influenced by multiple sources, including the works of Alex Katz, who was his professor during his Master's degree at Yale University. Refuting the conventional relationship between the viewer and artworks, the objects represented in Cárdenas's paintings aspire to provoke in the viewer a level of participation that goes beyond mere aesthetic contemplation, rather, they incite human interaction. Santiago Cárdenas's works have been part of numerous exhibitions worldwide and are found in important public collections, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York; the Museum of Fine Arts in Caracas, Venezuela; and the Rufino Tamayo Museum, Mexico City, Mexico.
Born in Roldanillo, Colombia 1928 and died in Palmira, Colombia 2010. Omar Rayo was a Colombian artist recognized for his blending of Op Art, abstraction, and Latin folklore and his pioneering optical kinetics in sculpture and paintings such as his Ritmocromías. His works often featured intricate geometric patterns and optical illusions, showcasing meticulous attention to detail. Rayo's practice delved into the exploration of visual perception, with an emphasis on creating vibrant and dynamic compositions that captivate the viewer.
Born in Roldanillo, Colombia 1928 and died in Palmira, Colombia 2010. Omar Rayo was a Colombian artist recognized for his blending of Op Art, abstraction, and Latin folklore and his pioneering optical kinetics in sculpture and paintings such as his Ritmocromías. His works often featured intricate geometric patterns and optical illusions, showcasing meticulous attention to detail. Rayo's practice delved into the exploration of visual perception, with an emphasis on creating vibrant and dynamic compositions that captivate the viewer.
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