Hundreds of people gathered on Friday in the Colombian capital to say goodbye to the late Colombian artist Fernando Botero, one of the most important artists of the 20th century, at the beginning of a week of tributes in Bogotá and Medellín.
The coffin arrived wrapped in a Colombian flag at the headquarters of the Congress of the Republic in the capital, where it was received by a wind orchestra, a choir, the presidential guard, congressmen and family members.
“We are overwhelmed, moved and deeply grateful with the expressions of affection, recognition and gratitude towards my father (…) Bringing my dad one last time to his homeland, so that Colombians can say goodbye to him, was one of our most great desires,” said his daughter Lina Botero.
The famous master of volume, one of the most sought-after artists in the world, died on September 15 at the age of 91 in Monaco as a result of pneumonia.
During this Friday’s ceremony, the president of Congress, Iván Name, assured that the country is saying goodbye to “a universal Colombian.”
Botero, added the congressman, “stopped the world for a moment (…) he did it with a brush and with his hands, when he managed to paint a different world. A world that reflected the reality of his country, but that also contained the secret keys to the human spirit.”
His remains will later be transferred to Medellín
After 2:00 pm local time, outside the Congress, about 500 people formed long lines to say goodbye to the artist in the chamber decorated with dozens of floral arrangements.
After the long wait, people had a few seconds to approach the coffin and say goodbye to the artist. Some crossed themselves, others made a bow of respect next to the coffin guarded by the presidential guard and then headed in silence towards the exit.
Botero’s body arrived in Bogotá on Thursday night and will be in the burning chamber in Congress from Friday to Sunday, in the heart of the city.
On Monday, Botero’s remains will be transferred to Medellín (northwest), his hometown. Memorial events will also be held there before the cremation.
Next week, his ashes will be taken back to Europe, to the small Italian town of Pietrasanta, to be buried next to the grave of his wife, the Greek artist Sophia Vari, who died in May.
Botero’s creations, mostly with voluptuous and slightly surreal forms, have been auctioned for up to $4.3 million in the most prestigious galleries in the world.
In Colombia he donated dozens of works to museums and public parks, in an attempt to bring art to the popular classes. Around the world he exhibited them in cities such as Madrid, Paris, Barcelona, Singapore and Venice, among others.