Left: Colombian Ambassador, Dr. Venturo Emilio Diaz-Mejia, tells Mexican Ambassador Leonora Rueda about one of Botero's pieces, 'Una Familia', at the exhibition opening. Right: Colombian Ambassador, Dr. Ventura Emilio Diaz-Mejia (left), and German Ambassador Volker Schlegel joke with Glynne Manley at the exhibition. - photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter

Jamaicans will have the chance to see works from the man widely regarded as Latin America's greatest visual artist.

Forty posters of original works from master Fernando Botero are now splashed across the Life of Jamaica Centre. The originals reside in various museums across the world. Colombian Ambassador Dr. Ventura Emilio Diaz-Mejia, said the exhibition is a travelling one and made a stop in Jamaica to show the public a representative of the cultural richness of Colombian art.

Also, the exhibition is part of celebrations of the 75th anniversary of Botero's birth. The great man was born in Medellin and had his first individual exhibition in 1951. His work is easily recognised as they depict robust, inflated forms with amplified human bodies. Botero now lives in northern Italy.

Jorge Jaramillo, first secretary for cultural affairs in the Colombian Embassy, said that Botero was very generous in lending some of his works for the exhibition. He said the LoJ centre was chosen because it gave access to more people.

Original works

"We don't just want a select group of people to see it. We want everyone from children to adults to view it, form their opinions and make comments," he said.After its two-week showing at the centre, there are plans to take it to Montego Bay, and there will also be an exhibition at the University of West Indies, Mona campus, from late September to early October. Jaramillo also hopes that one day the embassy will be able to bring some of his original works instead of posters. "For us this is just the beginning," he opined.

Guests at the opening included: Spanish Ambassador Jesus Silva, Chilean Ambassador Alfonso Silva and wife Ada, Chinese Ambassador Chen Jinghua and wife Xiao Linhua, Fanny Pino, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Venezuelan Embassy Madai Hernandez and husband Marcelo, Guillermo Hernandez from the Cuban Embassy, Paul and Oriente Issa, Hugh and Ouida Dunphy, Ambassador Maxine Roberts and Trishanna Francis.

Left: Artist Seya Parboosingh (right) chats with Yoshiyuki Isoda, charge d'affaires at the Japanese Embassy, and wife Hisae, at the Colombian Art Exhibition held at Life of Jamaica Pedestrian Mall, New Kingston, on Monday, June 11.Right: Ada Silva (left) chats with Oriente Issa at the opening of the Colombian Embassy's 75th anniversary art exhibition of Colombian painter and scullptor, Fernando Botero, held at Life of Jamaica Pedestrian Mall, New Kingston.