Largest concave fresco in North American now open at the National Hispanic Cultural Center
Rarely does a destination have the opportunity to announce a project that transcends geographic boundaries and cultural norms. With
the completion of a 4,000 sq. ft. fresco inside the Torreon of the National Hispanic
Cultural Center (NHCC) in Albuquerque, visitors are invited to experience an
extraordinary work of art and labor of love .
Over 3,000 years of Hispanic history are depicted in the broadest sense, from Europe to Mesoamerica and into the American Southwest, illustrating the
complexities and diversity of the Hispanic experience.
New Mexico artist Frederico Vigil has spent close to a decade on the project, which
shares the story of Hispanic culture through the ancient art of fresco. The mural
depicts Hispanic history through historical periods plus significant and iconic
people and places.
The fresco was unveiled as the NHCC celebrated its 10th anniversary on
October 10, 2010.
Following in the footsteps of fresco masters such as Giotto, Michelangelo, Masaccio
and Goya, and, more recently, muralists Diego Rivera and Jose Clemente Orozco, Vigil
continues this time-honored tradition inside the Torreon of the NHCC.
The intricate process of fresco requires many steps for each component of a mural.
When the exhibit is completely finished, the NHCC will offer
interpretive materials, classes and workshops showing the process so even
non-artists can comprehend the magnitude of the masterpiece they are viewing.
As it is painted in the round, there are several points of entry into the fresco,
allowing visitors to begin their journey wherever they choose. Over 3,000 years of
Hispanic history are depicted in the broadest sense. In short, the fresco depicts
and conveys the complexities, diversity and richness of the Hispanic experience.
Themes such as science, literature, religion, acculturation, and technological
evolution are followed across geographical expanses and time.
Born and raised in Santa Fe, Artist Frederico Vigil grew up infused with the rich
history that has become the trademark of his art. Vigil first became involved with
fresco during an internship in the 1970s with Lucienne Bloch and Stephen Pope
Dimitroff, who were notably, apprentices to Diego Rivera. This initial experience
piqued his interest and he has since dedicated his life to creating frescos. Since
completing his first fresco in 1984, he has created 12 major frescos; the one at the
NHCC is his largest to date.
© 2010 |
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