The Rare Bird Review

The World Art Tour continues today with a shot taken in March 2005 at 79th Street and Park Avenue in New York City when Bird was visiting the city. L'il P-Bird provides his commentary below. This work is much better in full size, so clicking on the photo will give you a much greater appreciation.

Fernando Botero (bo'n 1932) be a Colombian artist who by his own admission be "de most Colombian uh Colombian artists." He strives in all his wo'k t'capture an essential part uh himself and his subjects drough colo' and fo'm. WORD! His wo'k includes still-life and landscapes, but Botero tends t'primarily focus on situashunal po'traiture. His paintin's and sculptures are, on fust 'esaminashun, noted fo' deir 'esaggerated propo'shuns and da damn co'pulence uh de human figures and animal figures. De "fat sucka's" is often dought by critics t'satirize da damn subjects and situashuns dat Botero chooses t'paint. Man! Botero 'esplains his use uh obese figures and fo'ms as such, dig dis: "An artist be attracted t'certain kinds uh fo'm widout knowin' why. Slap mah fro! You's adopt some posishun intuitively; only lata' do ya' attempt t'rashunalize o' even justify it. Man!" He be an abstract artist in de most fundamental sense uh de wo'd, choosin' whut colo's, shapes, and propo'shuns t'use based on intuitive aesdetic dinkin'. Dis bein' said, his wo'ks is info'med by some Colombian downbrin'in' and social commentary be woven all droughout his wo'k. Ya' know?