Helen Escobedo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Helen Escobedo
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Helen Escobedo, 1960
photographed by Kati Horna |
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| Born | July 28, 1934 Mexico City, Mexico
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| Died | September 16, 2010 (aged 76) Mexico City, Mexico
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| Nationality | Mexican |
| Education | Motolinia University, Royal College of Art |
| Known for | Sculpture |
| Spouse(s) |
Fredrik Kirsebom
(m. 1957–1977)Hans-Jürgen Rabe
(m. 1995) |
Helen "Elena" Escobedo (July 28, 1934 – September 16, 2010) was a famous Mexican sculptor and installation artist. Her amazing artwork has been shown all over the world. You could find her art in Mexico, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Israel, and New Zealand.
Helen's art career lasted more than 50 years. She often explored ideas about nature and city problems through her art. Many of her works were created for a specific place and were temporary.
Contents
Early Life and Art Beginnings
Helen Escobedo was born in Mexico City on July 28, 1934. Her father was a lawyer from Mexico, and her mother was from England. Helen and her younger brother, Miguel, were taught at home by a French governess until Helen was ten.
When she was young, Helen also learned ballet. She played the violin, taught by a famous musician named Sander Roth. Even though she was good at violin, Helen decided to focus on art instead.
Helen's Education and Training
In 1949, at age 15, Helen started taking art classes at Mexico City College. She also studied art at Motolinia University. There, she learned from an abstract sculptor named Germán Cueto. She loved trying out many different art materials.
A British sculptor, Professor John Skeaping, was very impressed by her work. He encouraged her to study sculpture in London. Helen received a special grant to study at the Royal College of Art. She ended up studying there for three years. She learned from famous artists like Henry Moore and Jacob Epstein.
By 1954, at just 20 years old, Helen had earned two degrees. She got her bachelor's degree in Humanities from Motolinia University. She also earned her master's degree in Sculpture from the Royal College of Art in London.
Helen's Amazing Career
Helen Escobedo was not just a sculptor. She was also a talented painter, printmaker, and installation artist. She wrote, performed, gave lectures, and even directed museums!
In 1960, Helen became the head of the Museo de Arte Moderno (Museum of Modern Art). She also directed the Department of Museums and Galleries at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). She worked there until 1978, organizing many art shows. While directing, she still created her own art and took on new projects.
Later, from 1982 to 1984, she served as the Director of the Museum of Modern Art again. From 1985 to 1989, she worked as an art curator for the UNAM Museum. She focused on international art shows. After leaving her director roles, Helen decided to spend more time creating her own art.
Important Art Exhibitions
Helen's very first solo art show was in 1956 in Mexico City. It showed her sculptures, drawings, and paintings. After marrying Fredrik Kirsebom, she lived in Sweden for two years. When she returned to Mexico, she had another solo show.
In 1968, Helen was invited to join the Ruta de la Amistad (Route of Friendship) project. This was for the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. She created a large sculpture called Puertas al Viento (Gateway to the Wind). This was her first really big sculpture. The Route of Friendship was a special highway with huge sculptures by many artists.
Helen's Dynamic Walls exhibition traveled to different cities. It started in Prague but got lost on its way to Rome. When it was found in 1971, it was in bad shape. This made Helen decide to create temporary art. She would make art installations right at the location, using materials found nearby. This way, her art wouldn't get ruined while traveling. This became her special style, known all over the world.
In 1978, Helen created Coatl at the UNAM Cultural Center in Mexico City. It was made of steel beams painted yellow, orange, and red, standing 15 meters tall.
In 1991, she made a powerful statement with her exhibit Negro basura, negro mañana (Black garbage, black tomorrow). She used black-painted garbage, three meters wide and 100 feet long. It was displayed in Chapultepec Park in Mexico City for three days. Over the years, she participated in many other exhibitions worldwide.
Her show Estar y no estar was displayed in 2000. In 2002, she had three shows: one in Mexico City and two in Germany. She continued to have exhibitions in Mexico and Germany through 2007 and 2008. In the United Kingdom, she had a solo show called Summer Field. Helen's last solo exhibition was in Mexico City in 2010.
Awards and Recognition
Helen Escobedo won a prize in a sculpture competition at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in 1976. In 1980, she and two architects won an award for designing a building.
She received the Guggenheim Fellowship in 1991. This is a very important award for creative artists. In 1999, she was given the FONCA creators’ grant.
Writing and Publications
Helen Escobedo was also a writer. Her works were published in public collections. In 1989, she created and coordinated a book called Mexican Monuments: Strange Encounters. It was printed in both Spanish and English and was very successful. This book helped her share her Mexican heritage. She also wrote an article in 1999 for a book about 20th-century art.
In 2004, a book about Helen's art installations was written by Graciela Schmilchuk. It was called Helen Escobedo: Steps on the Sand.
Later Life and Legacy
Helen Escobedo had two children with Fredrik Kirsebom: Andrea (born 1962) and Michael (born 1964). In 1987, Helen started splitting her time between Mexico and Germany. She lived six months in each country with her partner, Hans-Jürgen Rabe, whom she married in 1995.
In 2004, Helen celebrated her 70th birthday, and her first granddaughter was born. She lived in many places, including Mexico City, Sweden, Germany, Hamburg, and Berlin.
Helen Escobedo passed away in her hometown of Mexico City on September 16, 2010, at the age of 76. Her art continues to inspire people around the world.
See also
In Spanish: Helen Escobedo para niños
