Nemesio Antúnez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nemesio Antúnez Zañartu
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Bailarines con volantines (detail); mural nº16 of the Museo a Cielo Abierto de Valparaíso
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| Born | May 4, 1918 |
| Died | May 19, 1993 (aged 75) |
| Nationality | Chilean |
| Known for | Painting, engraving |
| Awards | Best Latin American Painter Prize, São Paulo Art Biennial |
Nemesio Antúnez Zañartu (born May 4, 1918, died May 19, 1993) was an important Chilean artist. He was a talented painter and engraver. He also started a special art place called Workshop 99.
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Nemesio Antúnez's Early Life and Art Journey
Nemesio Antúnez was born in Santiago, Chile. He was the oldest of three sons. All his brothers, Enrique and Jaime, also became artists. Enrique was a painter, and Jaime became a sculptor. Nemesio also had a sister named Laura.
He went to high school at the College of the Sacred Hearts in Santiago. When he was 17, he won a trip to France. There, he learned about famous artists like Pablo Picasso, Juan Gris, and Joan Miró.
In 1938, Nemesio started studying architecture at a university in Chile. He finished his studies in 1941. When he was 25, he had his first art show. It showed his beautiful watercolor paintings.
Learning Art in New York
Thanks to a special scholarship, Nemesio traveled to New York City. He studied at Columbia University. In 1947, he earned his Master's degree.
After that, he worked in an art studio called Atelier 17. There, he learned from an artist named Stanley William Hayter. Hayter used printmaking techniques in a unique way. Nemesio and his brother Enrique explored old printmaking methods. They worked with other artists like Yves Tanguy and Joan Miró.
In 1950, the French part of Atelier 17 moved.
Nemesio Antúnez's Amazing Murals
Nemesio Antúnez painted fifteen large murals in total. A mural is a big painting on a wall. Only five of his murals are in Chile. Four of them are in Santiago: Luna, Quinchamalí, Sol, and Terremoto. One mural, called Bailarines con volantines, is in the Open-air Museum of Valparaíso.
In 2011, the Santiago murals were declared national monuments. This means they are very important to the country's history and art. However, some of them need a lot of care.
Murals Needing Repair
The Terremoto mural was painted in 1958. It is very large, covering over 30 square meters. It is on a wall in the Nile Cinema. This mural has cracks from the big 2010 Chile earthquake.
The Quinchamalí mural (also from 1958) is in even worse condition. It is at the Juan Esteban Montero Gallery. The paint is peeling and bending because of moisture. An art restorer believes it can be saved. However, the building owner thinks the Nemesio Antúnez Foundation should fix it or move it. He is not interested in keeping it.
Besides the mural, Nemesio Antúnez also made floor mosaics in the same gallery. These mosaics are still in perfect condition.
Murals in Better Shape
The murals Sol and Luna are doing better. They were made in 1955. They decorate the space between the Gran Palace cinema and theater. These murals have gold and silver threads and sheets in them. The manager of the Gran Palace hotel said that they would start restoring these murals in 2015.
Honoring Nemesio Antúnez
Even after his death, Nemesio Antúnez is remembered. Many art galleries, schools, and streets in Chile are named after him.
In 1993, a special stamp was made to honor him. It showed his painting called Tanguería en Valparaíso. The next year, the Chilean Government created a special group. It was called the "Commission Nemesio Antúnez." This group was in charge of making sure art laws were followed.
Gallery
See also
In Spanish: Nemesio Antúnez para niños
