Amparo Garzon's Gallery in Miami
The Magic Realism Doyenne's Paintings in Mary Brickell Village Miami
Nov 30, 2008
Magic realism is a term which was first coined by German historian and art critic Franz Roh in 1925. The art movement followed Expressionism and developed in visual arts as well as in literature. Probably the best known writer of the genre is Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Amparo Garzon is an internationally acclaimed painter and sculptur who has recently enjoyed an exhibition as far afield as China.
BackgroundAmparo Garzon was born in Colombia and now resides in Miami with her husband Roberto Preciado where they run her art gallery Spirit del Art in the fashionable Mary Brickell Village complex in Downtown Miami. The gallery is not only designed to exhibit the paintings and sculptures but also for customers and enthusists to come, sit, have a coffee and chat.
She has been drawing and painting since childhood as a means of expressing her inner world and dreams. Her first choice of study was however pure physics, which probably inspired in her a sense for precision and geometry which is still noticable in her work and, to a certain extend, rule the methodical way in which she approaches each new painting.
She subsequently studied art and painting in many countries including Italy and Spain and even was a stage designer in Quito. Amparo has come a long way full of changes and experiments to reach her present philosophy of considering art as a healer. She is also a keen student of Siddah Yoga meditation and a Reiki master as well as a holistic hypnotherapist. Meeting her in person conveys her spirituality combined with approachability and femininity.
Symbols and their MeaningMagic realism in painting is all about the use and reproduction of seemingly simple, every day items like a pot, a pencil or a kettle and representing them in a context and symbolism which enters the realm of magic to the extent, that the observer feels he has never seen a kettle before. The composition of the painting and the juxtaposition of the depicted objects acquire a magic of their own and inspire emotions and reactions in the irresistably drawn-in observer.
Amparo's objects and symbols are manifold and in fact fill an entire book: " Amparo Garzon, Realismo Magico" by Adriana Herrera Tellez." The book is written in Spanish but has to page to page English translation and a French summary at the end and is available at the gallery.
The artist explains her frequent use of the watermelon. For her the fruit with its outer hard green shell and soft, red inner pulp, symbolises femininity and women's vulnerability, particularly in the paintings where the seeds are replaced by cruelly penetrating, long nails.
Another symbol are ribbons and bows which represent ties to family and friends but also spiritual ties which bind earthly existence to the metaphysical and the universe.
Kettles, pots amd pans are other frequently used symbols. They represent women in the privacy of their domestic environment. The forms and colors vary, according to the age of the represented women and their composition in relation to each other symbolises female interaction and power.
Amparo is and sees herself as a feminine painter and, as she explains, is intent on using her art as a tool not only for self-expression but as a demonstration of pure love and the power to heal mind and soul by the message conveyed in her paintings.
Her gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and each Monday and Thursday lectures and conferences are held. A canopy of Tibtian origin shields a cozy seating area where the visitor can admire her art and is welcome to stay and enjoy.
 |
 |
 |
