Sofía Bassi facts for kids

Sofía Bassi (born July 28, 1913 – died September 11, 1998) was a famous Mexican painter and writer. She was known for her unique surrealist artworks. Surrealism is a style of art that uses dream-like images and unexpected combinations.

Sofía Bassi continued her art career even during a challenging time in her life. She painted her first large wall painting, called a mural, while in prison in Acapulco. Other artists like Alberto Gironella, José Luis Cuevas, Rafael Coronel, and Francisco Corzas helped her. This important mural is now at the city's main building.

About Sofía Bassi's Life

Sofía Bassi was born in Ciudad Camerino Mendoza, Veracruz, Mexico. This town was named after her uncle, who was part of the Mexican Revolution. Her original name was Sofía Celorio Mendoza, but she changed it for her art career.

She studied philosophy at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México for two years. However, she later taught herself how to paint, starting in 1964.

Sofía Bassi was married twice. Her first marriage was when she was very young. It ended in divorce, and she had two children, Hadelin and Claire Diericx. Her second husband was Jean Franco Bassi. They had a son named Franco.

In 1968, Sofía Bassi faced a difficult personal event. She spent five years in prison until her release in 1972. During this time, she continued to create art. She painted her first mural on a prison wall with help from other artists. Many of her works from this period were published in a book called 100 obras de Sofía Bassi realizadas en la carcel. She also wrote a book about her experience in 1978. A documentary film called "Acapulco 68" was released in 2011, telling more about these events.

Later in her life, she worked with the World Human Rights Committee in New York City. In 1991, the Mexican government gave her a medal for her work helping elderly people.

She lived in Lomas de Chapultepec, Mexico City, painting and writing until she passed away. She often used her daughter Claire as a model for her paintings. About twelve years before she died, she designed a special egg-shaped container for her funeral. She saw the egg as a symbol of new beginnings.

In 1998, Sofía Bassi died at age 85 due to heart failure. Her remains were placed in Acapulco, under a cross designed by architect Ricardo Legorreta.

Her Amazing Art Career

Sofía Bassi started teaching herself to paint with support from her husband. She quickly became a recognized artist.

Exhibitions and Books

Throughout her career, Sofía Bassi had about ninety solo art shows. She also participated in over 165 group exhibitions. Her first shows were in New York, just one year after she started painting. She exhibited her art in Mexico, the United States, Europe, and Africa.

Some important places where her art was shown include the Museo de Arte Moderno in Mexico City. Her work was also displayed at La Maison de L'Amerique Latine in Paris. Other notable venues were the Selma Lagerlöf Museum in Stockholm and the Tel Aviv Museum of Art.

In 1974, over seventy of her artworks were featured in a book. The book was called Los Continents del Sueño by Salvador Elizondo. It was published in five different languages.

Murals and Collaborations

Sofía Bassi painted two large murals during her life. Her first mural was in the prison in Acapulco in 1969. It was titled Primero mi patria, luego mi vida (First my homeland, then my life). She worked on it with artists like Alberto Gironella and José Luis Cuevas. The prison later became a middle school. The mural was moved to the city hall to keep it safe.

Her second mural, Sabiduría es la paz (Wisdom is peace), was painted in 1994. It is located at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. After the first moon landings, NASA asked her to create a painting to celebrate this achievement. She created "Viaje Espacial" (Space Travel), which astronaut Michael Collins unveiled.

She also worked with other artists like Asger Jorn. In 1970, she designed the set for a play called Adriano VII. In 1976, she painted the main stage curtain for a theater in Mexico City. She also illustrated many books for different authors.

Where to Find Her Art

Sofía Bassi's paintings are in museums in Mexico, Belgium, the United States, and France. These include the Museo de Arte Moderno and the Smithsonian. She painted a portrait of Amado Nervo, which is in the Amado Nervo Home-Museum.

Writing and Public Appearances

Besides her painting, Sofía Bassi was also a writer. In 1966, she published a novel called El color del aire. She later wrote El hombre leyenda and Bassi, prohibido pronunciar su nombre. She also wrote a book of short stories called Alfolí with Bertha Rosalia Gonzalez Aragon. She had two novels that were not published before she died.

She often took part in discussions and gave talks on radio and television. She even had her own shows on XEW, where she discussed art and other topics.

Awards and Recognition

Sofía Bassi received many awards for her work. These include the Cross of the Order of Malta in 1967. She also won the Prefetto di Terni Cup in Italy in 1970. In 1975, she received the Legión de Honor. She was also a member of the Salón de la Plástica Mexicana, a group of important Mexican artists. In 1988, the Polyforum Cultural Siqueiros held a special exhibition to celebrate her art.

Sofía Bassi's Art Style

Sofía Bassi's art is often called a type of Surrealism. One art critic in 1972 described her work as "magical impressionism." She saw art as a special drink that she wanted to keep enjoying throughout her life.

She painted dream-like landscapes with human-like shapes. These often showed lost continents and cities surrounded by oceans. Her art even inspired a film called Trampa para una nina.

See also

In Spanish: Sofía Bassi para niños