Marina Núñez del Prado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marina Núñez del Prado
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| Born | 17 October 1910 |
| Died | 9 September 1995 (aged 84) |
| Nationality | Bolivian |
| Occupation | sculptors |
Marina Núñez del Prado (born October 17, 1910 – died September 9, 1995) was a famous Bolivian sculptor. She was known for her beautiful and unique artworks.
Marina Núñez del Prado was one of the most respected sculptors from Latin America. Many of her sculptures showed the female body. She also found ideas from animals and landscapes in Bolivia. Her art often had smooth, flowing curves. She used local Bolivian woods, black granite, alabaster, basalt, and white onyx for her carvings. One of her most famous works is "White Venus" (1960). It is a stylish female body made from white onyx. Another well-known piece is "Mother and Child," also made of white onyx. Her art was greatly inspired by the native cultures of Bolivia.
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Bolivia and La Paz: Art and Culture
Bolivia is a country known for its buildings, people, and art. Bolivian art is special. It was also shaped by some Western art styles. These styles, like Neo-classicism, changed sculpture. But Bolivia still had three main art periods. These were Mannerism, Realism, and Hyperrealism. Artists in each period created many unique works. For example, in the Hyperrealist period, some artists made sculptures with real items. These items included wigs or glasses. Art also sometimes focused on religion. Examples are "Christ of La Recoleta" and "Virgin of Copacabana."
La Paz is the city where Marina Núñez del Prado was born. It was founded in 1548. Art from Spain came to La Paz. This brought art styles like Baroque. These styles were taught at the Lake Titicaca School. Later, Mestizo Baroque, Neo-classicism, and Rococo also influenced art and buildings in La Paz. The Universidad Mayor de San Andrés is an example. It used a mix of Baroque and Neo-classicism. Around 1956, new styles like abstraction were popular. But there was also a growing interest in traditional folk art.
Early Life and Artistic Training
Marina Núñez del Prado was born in La Paz, Bolivia, on October 17, 1910. She first loved art when she was young. She learned how to model sculptures in La Paz. Her passion for sculpture came from the work of Michelangelo. She later studied fine art at the Academy of Fine Arts in La Paz. She finished her studies in 1930. Soon after graduating, she had her first art shows in La Paz. She then taught artistic anatomy and sculpture at her old school. She became the first woman to lead a department at the Academy.
While working at the Academy of Fine Arts, Marina Núñez del Prado showed her art locally. She was very active in art. She worked with other artists, like Cecilio Guzmán de Rojas. He was a Bolivian painter who led the native art movement. Núñez del Prado also focused her art on the rights of native peoples. She supported indigenismo. This was a belief about how native people related to the government.
In 1938, Núñez del Prado left her job and La Paz to travel. She spent several years traveling through Peru, Uruguay, and Argentina. She then traveled outside South America. She visited Egypt, parts of Europe, and the United States. In New York, she studied for 8 years. She had a special scholarship from the American Association of University Women.
While in New York, Núñez del Prado won a Gold Medal. This was for her art show called Miners in Rebellion. This work was about the miners in the Potosí Department of Bolivia. In 1948, she moved back to La Paz. She kept making art inspired by the native peoples of South America. She also drew ideas from the land and culture of her home. In 1972, she moved to Peru. She lived there with her husband, Jorge Falcón. He was a writer from Peru. Marina Núñez del Prado and her four siblings gave the Casa Museo Marina Nuñez del Prado to the people of Bolivia. This was to honor her parents. The museum has over a thousand artworks. Most are by Marina, and some are by her sister, Nilda. Marina Núñez del Prado passed away in Lima, Peru, in 1995.
Art Career and Style
In 1938, Marina Núñez del Prado left her teaching job. She traveled through Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, Uruguay, the United States, Europe, and Egypt. From 1940 to 1948, she worked and held art shows in the United States. She was there on a scholarship. In 1946, her work "Miners in Revolt" won a gold medal in a New York show. This piece was inspired by miners in Bolivia's Potosí Department. In 1948, she returned to Bolivia. She finally settled in La Paz in 1958. By 1972, she moved to Peru. She lived there with her husband, a Peruvian writer.
She wanted to use her art to bring the world together. She shared information about her heritage. She also brought back what she learned to Bolivia. She learned a lot in New York. For example, her art style became more modern. She gave her piece, "Mother and Child," to the American Association of University Women.
During her successful career, she met many great artists. These included Pablo Picasso and Constantin Brâncuși. She also met poets like Gabriela Mistral, Alfonsina Storni, and Juana de Ibarbourou. She was also friends with the Bolivian writer Franz Tamayo.
Experts have studied her work. Some say her art shows grace and strength. The strength can be seen in her Andean landscapes. Her grace is in the balanced shapes of her works. Her art changed over time. First, it had musical themes. Then, it focused on social topics. Later, she made stone sculptures. This was called the 'maternal' period. She made sculptures of native mothers. Finally, her art became more abstract. This was influenced by artists like Picasso.
Other experts say her work is powerful and grand. They note that her art often explored themes of race, myths, and traditions. Her sculptures of native mothers and mythical animals show this. Her early sculptures were realistic. Later, her art became modern and international. It ended up being abstract. This later work focused on the female figure and creatures from the Andes. For these, she used tropical woods, bronze, and stones. These stones included granite, andesite, basalt, onyx, and marble.
Critics have called her work "miraculous" and "mysterious." They praise her skill with materials. They say her abstract forms capture the artist's spirit. Her work has even inspired poems. The Spanish poet Rafael Alberti wrote a tribute to her art.
Núñez Del Prado Museum: A Home for Art
In the 1970s, Marina Núñez del Prado made her home and art studio in Lima, Peru. This building is now the Núñez del Prado Museum. It is located in the El Olivar Forest. The building was designed in 1926. It was one of the first buildings in the area. It became the first house in El Olivar to be named a National Cultural Heritage site. In 1984, the house-museum of the Núñez del Prado Foundation officially opened in La Paz. It honored Marina Núñez del Prado's parents.
The House Museum is run by the NUÑEZ DEL PRADO FOUNDATION. It is a private museum that adds to Bolivia's heritage. For many years, it was Marina Nunez del Prado's home and studio. Now, it is a museum. It is a treasured place of history and talent for the people of Bolivia. The museum holds 1,014 works by Marina del Prado. This includes sculptures, drawings, and sketches. It is the largest collection of her works. The museum also has art by her sister Nilda. Nilda was a great goldsmith and painter. The museum shows their family life. It has works by her father and collections of Bolivian Silver, Colonial Art, Contemporary Painting, and Handicrafts.
The house has a garden filled with sculptures. The building itself has two levels. The first floor has a small central courtyard with a metal fountain. The front of the house is colorful. On the right side, it looks like a smaller version of the famous Palace of the Admiral in Cusco. Marina Núñez's workshop is on the second level. It is seen as the heart of the house.
For a long time, the museum faced problems. It was closed and forgotten for almost 10 years. This was due to a lack of management and support. The closing happened because of damage during the building of the American Tunnel. Many people said the government did not take care of the situation. Neighbors saw the museum neglected for years. They spoke about its importance to their community and art history. They spoke highly of the museum and its works. They also spoke fondly of del Prado as an artist. In 2012, it was announced that restoration of the house would begin. Work was done to fix the building problems. The museum reopened in April 2015.
Legacy and Passing
Marina Núñez del Prado died in Lima, Peru, on September 9, 1995. She had spent the last twenty-five years of her life working there. She left behind a great legacy. Her work greatly enriched Bolivian art and culture. It also made a big impact on sculpture and Latin American art. During her life, she traveled and achieved so much. She became as famous as the artists who inspired her, like Picasso.
Her physical legacy is the Museo de Nunez del Prado. This was her family home. It now holds over 1000 of her works. These include drawings and sketches. The museum keeps her work safe. It also has contributions from her sister, a talented goldsmith and painter, and her father. The museum is in the center of the El Olivar Forest. It is a National Cultural Heritage site. Entry to the museum is free. International visitors need ID, like a passport. Visits are guided by the museum's expert.
Núñez del Prado’s impact goes far beyond Peru. Her work has greatly influenced sculpture in Latin America and around the world. Her art has helped shape the identity of South American art. She has also been featured in literature. This includes works by the Argentine poet Alfonsina Storni and the Spanish poet Raphael Alberti. Since 1930, her work has been admired in many countries. These include Peru, Argentina, Uruguay, Germany, USA, Brazil, Spain, Italy, France, Cuba, and Mexico.
Images for kids
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Marina Núñez del Prado
See also
In Spanish: Marina Núñez del Prado para niños
