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Kunstgeschiedenis-World of art - Lecture 5-Torres- Inverted America
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Lecture notes of 5 pages for the course World Art Studies at UL (College notes)
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World Art Studies 2324-S1 Part I – World Views (lecture 3-5)College 5: Joaquín Torres-García, Inverted Map of South America, 1943
Joaquín Torres-García (Uruguayan, 1874–1949) was a founding member of Latin American
Constructivism.
An artist and writer, he worked prolifically in both painting and sculpture, eventually developing a
signature, mature abstract style which he referred to as “Universal Constructivism.” Torres-García
participated in numerous avant-garde movements throughout his career, including Cubism,
Neoplasticism, and the Cercle et Carré (Circle and Square) group which he co-founded with artist Piet
Mondrian, though he ultimately struck out on his own.
América Invertida 1937 and Mapa de Sudamerica invertide 1943
Subversions the way of looking to the world
Jorje Luis Borges, short story. (’46)
What are the maps evoked in the story?
Certain land where maps are made. So perfect maps, so close to nature so close to the city, that the
map becomes the city, become the province becomes the empire.
What does this story tell us about map?
• Maps are made (remade and remade)à made by human mids
• Maps give us the impression that they are precise and objective but:
• They contain certain amount of fiction
• Maps used today may not be there tomorrow (change in due time)
• Maps are associated with science and precision, but are not necessarily so
• Maps are expression of power and of desire too.
Map América Invertida 1937
What are the maps evoked in the story?
• North is down and South is down. Point is pointed upwards. The S is also up.
• Handmade map, (normally really precise, objective and scientific) obviously hand drawn,
blurry lines, has a child like impression.
• Lines around equator are also inverted
, • No borders except Uruguay
• Sun and Moon
• Arrow up rightà movement of the earth
From European view the movement is clockwise, here it is inverted as well, counter clock
wiseà expression we relate to time is very European concept.
We can relate these characteristics with the map:
• Map is made (remade and remade)à now sold on tourist mugs, tshirt etc.
• Map give us the impression that they are precise and objective but: maybe not so much after
all
• They contain certain amount of fiction
• Maps used today may not be there tomorrow (change in due time)
• Maps are associated with science and precision, but are not necessarily so
• Map are expression of power and of desire tooà this was for the artist a starting point
Joaquín Torres-García (1874-1949)
Modern artist, from Montevideo, who lived a bit everywhere. Lived with a lot of artist such as Picasso,
Matisse.
He has not had the well-known reputation as the others because he had not the same support as the
other western artist.
Modern art defintionà beginning 20th centuryà lot of issues happened in art, started to work more
in abstract movement. Everything took place in the city, not outside. Industrialisation, life become
more industrious, art is not naturalistic but becomes more abstract.
Modern Life in Europe and the US
Lived in EuropeàWhen he was young, he was concerned with depicting modern life in the city
He moved to NY à again depicted the city
Not happy in NY and went back to Europe again.
In 1920 he left Europe for New York City, where his work appeared in Société Anonyme exhibitions. In
1922 he returned to Europe and became familiar with the Constructivist neoplasticism of Piet
Mondrian and Theo van Doesburg.
àCompletely changed his color palette, worked more with brown and black colors. Way
more abstract. The two-dimensionality of his work evolved into an explicit grid structure,
which he filled with symbols such as fish, human figures, and geometric forms.
In 1934, Torres-García returned to Uruguay from the United States and Europe, where he had lived
for roughly 40 years.
àHis art really changes. Everything becomes black, building blocks, structured and continues
this on and on.
1934, he established the School of the South, a workshop in which he encouraged students to seek
inspiration locally rather than globally, while at the same time establishing an autonomous artistic
tradition, moves back to Montevideo, Uruguay. He moves back for political reasonsà Nazism
In 1934 he is determined to introduce Modernist and Constructivist aesthetics to Uruguayan
artists. Het established El Taller Torres Garcia workshop, a workshop in which he encouraged
students to seek inspiration locally rather than globally, while at the same time establishing an
autonomous artistic tradition. He also started to write a lot. Writes a lot about the spirit of Latin
America.
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