Report on 2010 competition
“They (drawings) make me feel the presence of the absent world of the Andes, so that I feel it even more intensely than if I were there”
Fernando Montes on drawing
This year 101 artists submitted a total of 134 works. The jury, comprising the established Bolivian artists Alfredo La Placa, Fabricio Lara, Guiomar Mesa and Keiko González, and the Spanish art historian Margarita Vila, met on 15th May. 38 works were chosen for the exhibition, of which 27 works were selected for reproduction in the catalogue.
The 1st Prize was awarded unanimously to Alvaro Ruilova for his work “Rubén”. The 2nd Prize was awarded by majority vote to Juan José Serrano Caballero for his work “El sueño de las bestias”.
The Jury in its final statement expressed their satisfaction at the standard of the work submitted, the variety of techniques and the diversity of subjects. For these reasons instead of making three commendations, the jury decided to increase the number to six. Their entries are shown here.
The exhibition was held from 1st to 12th June at Espacio de Arte Nota, the most prestigious art gallery in La Paz. At the private view the following people spoke: H.E. Mr. Nigel Baker, British Ambassador to Bolivia, Mrs. Norah Claros, director of the gallery, Giomar Mesa representing the Jury, and Marcela, Fernando’s wife representing the family.
This year the 1st Prize value was increased to US$800 and the 2nd Prize to US$400. There was also a round table discussion at the end of the exhibition. To this the members of the jury and the artists, including the winners of the two previous competitions, were invited. This proved to be a lively, moving and interesting event. The artists enjoyed the opportunity to talk freely to members of the Jury, to express their concerns and to exchange comments among themselves,
Movingly, Rosemary Mamani, winner of the first competition, replying to one of the artists who questioned the value of competitions, said that the Fernando Montes Drawing Competition had changed her life. Initially she was not going to participate because she was told that these competitions are pre-arranged. She was very surprised when she won and felt encouraged to participate in other competitions. She was subsequently invited by UNESCO to travel to Paris to exhibit there, and then she said “and I was able to visit the Louvre”.
The Fund is keeping a record of information about artists who participate in these competitions and intends to hold the competition every year. Alejandro Archondo, who won 2nd Prize in 2008, held a joint exhibition this year in Espacio Patiño in La Paz and his work was reviewed in the newspaper La Razón. The Sunday Magazine Tendencias of La Razón published a two page review of the work of Alvaro Ruilova, winner of this year’s 1st Prize.
The Fund expresses its gratitude to the all who have made the competition with your contributions. It is very grateful to Norah Claros, Director of the Gallery, Fernando Romero for the catalogue, to Marguerite Jacucci and Elia Sánchez for their constant support.
The 1st Prize was awarded unanimously to Alvaro Ruilova for his work “Rubén”. The 2nd Prize was awarded by majority vote to Juan José Serrano Caballero for his work “El sueño de las bestias”.
The Jury in its final statement expressed their satisfaction at the standard of the work submitted, the variety of techniques and the diversity of subjects. For these reasons instead of making three commendations, the jury decided to increase the number to six. Their entries are shown here.
The exhibition was held from 1st to 12th June at Espacio de Arte Nota, the most prestigious art gallery in La Paz. At the private view the following people spoke: H.E. Mr. Nigel Baker, British Ambassador to Bolivia, Mrs. Norah Claros, director of the gallery, Giomar Mesa representing the Jury, and Marcela, Fernando’s wife representing the family.
This year the 1st Prize value was increased to US$800 and the 2nd Prize to US$400. There was also a round table discussion at the end of the exhibition. To this the members of the jury and the artists, including the winners of the two previous competitions, were invited. This proved to be a lively, moving and interesting event. The artists enjoyed the opportunity to talk freely to members of the Jury, to express their concerns and to exchange comments among themselves,
Movingly, Rosemary Mamani, winner of the first competition, replying to one of the artists who questioned the value of competitions, said that the Fernando Montes Drawing Competition had changed her life. Initially she was not going to participate because she was told that these competitions are pre-
The Fund is keeping a record of information about artists who participate in these competitions and intends to hold the competition every year. Alejandro Archondo, who won 2nd Prize in 2008, held a joint exhibition this year in Espacio Patiño in La Paz and his work was reviewed in the newspaper La Razón. The Sunday Magazine Tendencias of La Razón published a two page review of the work of Alvaro Ruilova, winner of this year’s 1st Prize.
The Fund expresses its gratitude to the all who have made the competition with your contributions. It is very grateful to Norah Claros, Director of the Gallery, Fernando Romero for the catalogue, to Marguerite Jacucci and Elia Sánchez for their constant support.