Since 1990, those passing by the Singapore River at UOB Plaza would have come across a sculpture of a fat bird. The fascinating sculpture is the work of Columbian artist Fernando Botero. More recently, more works by Botero have appeared at Gardens by the Bay, where IMBA is presenting a showcase of his works.
Heart of Volume: Botero Exhibition at the IMBA Theatre, Gardens by the Bay
With their exaggerated shapes and voluminous proportions, Botero’s works are immediately recognisable. This signature bloated style, also known as Boterismo, is used to represent either political criticism or humour.
For a closer appreciation of Botero’s works, pay a visit to an exhibition at the IMBA Theatre, located beside Bayfront Plaza.
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Heart of Volume is a gallery exhibition that features 118 paintings, drawings and indoor sculptures that span Botero’s 70-year career.
Presented in multiple sections, the exhibition features paintings that range from intimate studies and watercolours to fully realised compositions. The Heart of Volume exhibition traces the evolution of the Boterismo style, with its use of theatrical composition and expressive use of colour.
The Self & Student of Art section provides an entryway into the artist’s works, presenting how he reinterpreted the Renaissance and Baroque styles into his rotund style.
Then, in A Monumental Turn, take a journey into the pivotal moment in 1956 when he gave birth to his distinctive style, making use of volume as a stylistic expression.
The next few sections of the Botero exhibition showcase how he turned the canvas into a stage for witty dialogue, offering a theatrical lens for viewers of his works.
Heart of Volume marks the Singapore premiere of a diverse range of works that were shown in Rome, Baku, and Guangzhou, drawn directly from the collection of the Botero family, to offer audiences a rare and comprehensive encounter with his rich legacy.
Garden Grandeur: Botero Sculptures at Gardens by the Bay
Beyond the walls of the gallery, there are 10 monumental bronze sculptures on display at Gardens by the Bay, collectively presented as Garden Grandeur. These sculptures can be viewed for free.
Four of these are at IMBA Theatre and six more can be found across Gardens by the Bay at the Silver Garden, where the larger-than-life sculptures and their generous volumes augment gesture and expression, blending humour and gravitas to create shared moments.
Coming Soon: World’s First Immersive Botero Experience
In addition to Heart of Volume and Garden Grandeur, the world’s first immersive experience dedicated to Maestro Fernando Botero will also be opening at the IMBA Theatre soon.
