Gabriel Flores
Encyclopedia
Gabriel Flores was a prominent Mexican painter and muralist born in Guadalajara, Jalisco
. Between 1956 and 1993, his murals focused on historical and universal themes, as well as the ability of art functioning as social commentary. In the 1960s, at the height of his career, he created his magnum opus
Los Niños Héroes
, depicting the sacrifice of six child soldiers during the Mexican-American War. Gabriel Flores described himself, saying "I do not want much; I have what I like, above all my freedom."
, although some sources mention El Arenal
. He was involved in the arts since early childhood and at the age of 17, he began his formal art studies. In 1948, he entered the School of Fine Arts at the University of Guadalajara
. Together with Guillermo Chávez Vega, Torreblanca, Miguel Aldana and Ignacio Martínez, they formed the Neo-realist art group, running counter to the abstract art movement at the time. His early influences included Diego Rivera
and José Clemente Orozco
, both members of the Mexican Mural Renaissance
in the 1920s and 1930s.
His first achievement came early in 1951 when the Benjamin Franklin Library of Guadalajara presented an exhibition of his works. Soon thereafter, he lived in Mexico City for a period of four years, where he worked alongside other distinguished painters. At 25 years of age, he returned to his native land of Jalisco and abandoned his brief teaching duties to focus his career as a muralist. His second exhibition in Guadalajara featured the mural, El maíz en la Colonia, now lost. With an established recognition in the region, he was selected by then governor of Jalisco
Agustín Yáñez
to create two murals in the Public Library of the State, La imprenta en Jalisco (The Printing Press in Jalisco) and El parnaso jalisciense (The Jaliscan Parnassus), the latter of which is one of his most representative works.
In 1960, he painted Alegoria de la Guerra y la Paz in the state of Michoacán
, though it was later transferred to the governmental offices in Guadalajara. Two years later, he was given the Jalisco Award in Culture, a recognition observed by the city to Jaliscans with excellence in the visual arts. The city council also declared Gabriel Flores a "favorite son" and included his name in the School of Painters near Agua Azul park.
He reached his career high point in the latter half of the 1960s. In creating La filosofía y la ciencia (Philosophy and Science) at the Salvador Allende
auditorium in the University of Guadalajara
, he sought to bring attention to the realities of poverty, social injustice, discrimination and consequences of industrialism and technology. Los Niños Héroes, painted in Chapultepec Castle in 1967, honors the child heroes who died in the Battle of Chapultepec
during the Mexican-American War. The mural depicts a Mexican military cadet jumping from the tower of Chapultepec Castle in 1847 wrapped in the Mexican flag in order to prevent its capture by the U.S. military forces. As a presentation to tequila
, one of Jalisco's largest exports, he accepted a request to paint Tahona y fiesta and Mitología e historia del tequila for Casa Sauza, a liquor factory in Tequila, Jalisco
.
There was a change in subject matter for Flores' murals at the turn of the 1970s, shifting from historical and universal themes to works containing his own ideas and feelings on social and political events. He painted a series of murals, including Culto al Dinero (Worship of Money) and Estampas de la vida (Prints of Life), which did not garner much praise and were removed from exhibitions.
In 1984, at the age of 54, the Jalisco government awarded him the Medal of the Arts. The state governor commissioned his last work, La historia de la medicina en Guadalajara (The History of Medicine in Guadalajara), which was completed at Antiguo Hospital Civil in 1992, just one year prior to his death. In 2005, he was recognized by the University of Guadalajara and was honored by the state congress
as a distinguished Jaliscan painter.
Guadalajara, Jalisco
Guadalajara is the capital of the Mexican state of Jalisco, and the seat of the municipality of Guadalajara. The city is located in the central region of Jalisco in the western-pacific area of Mexico. With a population of 1,564,514 it is Mexico's second most populous municipality...
. Between 1956 and 1993, his murals focused on historical and universal themes, as well as the ability of art functioning as social commentary. In the 1960s, at the height of his career, he created his magnum opus
Magnum opus
Magnum opus , from the Latin meaning "great work", refers to the largest, and perhaps the best, greatest, most popular, or most renowned achievement of a writer, artist, or composer.-Related terms:Sometimes the term magnum opus is used to refer to simply "a great work" rather than "the...
Los Niños Héroes
Niños Héroes
The Niños Héroes , also known as the Heroic Cadets or Boy Soldiers, were six Mexican teenage military cadets. These cadets died defending Mexico at Mexico City's Chapultepec Castle from invading U.S. forces in the 13 September 1847 Battle of Chapultepec, during the Mexican–American War...
, depicting the sacrifice of six child soldiers during the Mexican-American War. Gabriel Flores described himself, saying "I do not want much; I have what I like, above all my freedom."
Life
Gabriel Flores García was born on February 8, 1930, in Guadalajara, JaliscoGuadalajara, Jalisco
Guadalajara is the capital of the Mexican state of Jalisco, and the seat of the municipality of Guadalajara. The city is located in the central region of Jalisco in the western-pacific area of Mexico. With a population of 1,564,514 it is Mexico's second most populous municipality...
, although some sources mention El Arenal
El Arenal
El Arenal is a town located in the province of Ávila within in the autonomous community of Castilla y Leon. El Arenal is located in Spain's Parque Regional de la Sierra de Gredos.*Country: España...
. He was involved in the arts since early childhood and at the age of 17, he began his formal art studies. In 1948, he entered the School of Fine Arts at the University of Guadalajara
University of Guadalajara
University of Guadalajara is a public university in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. It is the second oldest university in Mexico, the fifth oldest in North America and the fourteenth oldest in Latin America...
. Together with Guillermo Chávez Vega, Torreblanca, Miguel Aldana and Ignacio Martínez, they formed the Neo-realist art group, running counter to the abstract art movement at the time. His early influences included Diego Rivera
Diego Rivera
Diego María de la Concepción Juan Nepomuceno Estanislao de la Rivera y Barrientos Acosta y Rodríguez was a prominent Mexican painter born in Guanajuato, Guanajuato, an active communist, and husband of Frida Kahlo . His large wall works in fresco helped establish the Mexican Mural Movement in...
and José Clemente Orozco
José Clemente Orozco
José Clemente Orozco was a Mexican social realist painter, who specialized in bold murals that established the Mexican Mural Renaissance together with murals by Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and others...
, both members of the Mexican Mural Renaissance
Mexican Muralism
Mexican muralism is a Mexican art movement. The most important period of this movement took place primarily from the 1920s to the 1960s, though it exerted an influence on later generations of Mexican artists...
in the 1920s and 1930s.
His first achievement came early in 1951 when the Benjamin Franklin Library of Guadalajara presented an exhibition of his works. Soon thereafter, he lived in Mexico City for a period of four years, where he worked alongside other distinguished painters. At 25 years of age, he returned to his native land of Jalisco and abandoned his brief teaching duties to focus his career as a muralist. His second exhibition in Guadalajara featured the mural, El maíz en la Colonia, now lost. With an established recognition in the region, he was selected by then governor of Jalisco
Governor of Jalisco
The following is a list of governors of the Mexican state of Jalisco from 1921. The current constitution indicates a term 6 years in length, which cannot be renewed under any circumstances. It also stipulates the qualifications for becoming governor: a Mexican citizen by birth, at least 30 years of...
Agustín Yáñez
Agustín Yáñez
Agustín Yáñez Delgadillo was a notable Mexican writer and politician who served as Governor of Jalisco and Secretary of Public Education during Gustavo Díaz Ordaz's presidency...
to create two murals in the Public Library of the State, La imprenta en Jalisco (The Printing Press in Jalisco) and El parnaso jalisciense (The Jaliscan Parnassus), the latter of which is one of his most representative works.
In 1960, he painted Alegoria de la Guerra y la Paz in the state of Michoacán
Michoacán
Michoacán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Michoacán de Ocampo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 113 municipalities and its capital city is Morelia...
, though it was later transferred to the governmental offices in Guadalajara. Two years later, he was given the Jalisco Award in Culture, a recognition observed by the city to Jaliscans with excellence in the visual arts. The city council also declared Gabriel Flores a "favorite son" and included his name in the School of Painters near Agua Azul park.
He reached his career high point in the latter half of the 1960s. In creating La filosofía y la ciencia (Philosophy and Science) at the Salvador Allende
Salvador Allende
Salvador Allende Gossens was a Chilean physician and politician who is generally considered the first democratically elected Marxist to become president of a country in Latin America....
auditorium in the University of Guadalajara
University of Guadalajara
University of Guadalajara is a public university in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. It is the second oldest university in Mexico, the fifth oldest in North America and the fourteenth oldest in Latin America...
, he sought to bring attention to the realities of poverty, social injustice, discrimination and consequences of industrialism and technology. Los Niños Héroes, painted in Chapultepec Castle in 1967, honors the child heroes who died in the Battle of Chapultepec
Battle of Chapultepec
The Battle of Chapultepec, in September 1847, was a United States victory over Mexican forces holding Chapultepec Castle west of Mexico City during the Mexican-American War.-Background:On September 13, 1847, in the costly Battle of Molino del Rey, U.S...
during the Mexican-American War. The mural depicts a Mexican military cadet jumping from the tower of Chapultepec Castle in 1847 wrapped in the Mexican flag in order to prevent its capture by the U.S. military forces. As a presentation to tequila
Tequila
Tequila is a spirit made from the blue agave plant, primarily in the area surrounding the city of Tequila, northwest of Guadalajara, and in the highlands of the western Mexican state of Jalisco....
, one of Jalisco's largest exports, he accepted a request to paint Tahona y fiesta and Mitología e historia del tequila for Casa Sauza, a liquor factory in Tequila, Jalisco
Tequila, Jalisco
Santiago de Tequila is a town and municipality located in the state of Jalisco about 60 km from the city of Guadalajara. Tequila is best known as being the birthplace of the drink that bears its name, “tequila,” which is made from the blue agave plant, native to this area. The heart of the...
.
There was a change in subject matter for Flores' murals at the turn of the 1970s, shifting from historical and universal themes to works containing his own ideas and feelings on social and political events. He painted a series of murals, including Culto al Dinero (Worship of Money) and Estampas de la vida (Prints of Life), which did not garner much praise and were removed from exhibitions.
In 1984, at the age of 54, the Jalisco government awarded him the Medal of the Arts. The state governor commissioned his last work, La historia de la medicina en Guadalajara (The History of Medicine in Guadalajara), which was completed at Antiguo Hospital Civil in 1992, just one year prior to his death. In 2005, he was recognized by the University of Guadalajara and was honored by the state congress
Congress of Jalisco
The Congress of the State of Jalisco is the legislative branch of the government of the State of Jalisco. The Congress is the governmental deliberative body of Jalisco, which is equal to, and independent of, the executive....
as a distinguished Jaliscan painter.
Partial list of works
- La cortina de humo (1953), Escuela de Artes Plasticas de la Universidad de Guadalajara (desaparecido). Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. Caseína, 14 m².
- El maíz en la Colonia (1955), Gobierno del Estado (desaparecido). Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. Temple 30 m².
- La novela revolucionaria de Mariano Azuela (1956), Escuela "Mariano Azuela". Lagos de Moreno, Jalisco, México. Cerámica 25 m².
- La primera imprenta en Jalisco (1958), Sala de Lectura, Biblioteca Pública del Estado. Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. Acrilato 13 m².
- El parnaso jalisciense (1958), Biblioteca Pública del Estado. Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. Acrilato 216 m.
- Alegoría del teatro en México (1960), Teatro Experimental de Jalisco. m².
- La guerra y la paz (1960), Banco de Zamora. Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. Acrílico 15.30 x 2.50 m².
- Fundación de Guadalajara (1962), Palacio Municipal. Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. Acrílico 4.50 x 2.60 m².
- Maternidad (1963), Maternidad, "López Mateos", Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. Acrílico.
- Pedro Moreno (1964) Escuela Preparatoria. Lagos de Moreno, Jalisco, México.
- La filosofía y la ciencia (1965), Auditorio "Salvador Allende" del Centro Universitario de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades de la Universidad de Guadalajara. Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. Acrílico.
- Las Bellas Artes (1966). Oficinas del Departamento de Bellas Artes del Gobierno del Estado. Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. Acrílico.
- Los Niños Héroes (1967), Castillo de Chapultepec, México, D.F. Acrílico.
- Las artesanías (1968), Casa de las Artesanías del Estado. Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. Acrílico, 6.0 x 1.50 m.
- Tahona y fiesta (1969), Fabrica de Tequila Sauza. Tequila, Jalisco, México. Acrílico, 14.0 x 3.50 m.
- Mitología e historia del tequila (1970), Oficinas de la fábrica de Tequila Sauza. Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. Acrílico sobre tela.
- Culto al dinero (1975). "Sucesos núm. 1", Gobierno del Estado. Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. Acrílico sobre tela 10.0 x 2.50 m.
- Estampas de la vida (1975), "Sucesos núm. 2", Gobierno del Estado. Guadalajara, Jalisco, México. Acrílico sobre tela 10.0 x 2.50 m.
- Cervantes y su obra (1978). Colección particular Eulalio Ferrer. México, D.F. Museo Iconográfico del Quijote en Guanajuato, Guanajuato.
- Nuestra civilización (1979), edificio del Sistema de Educación Media y Superior (SEMS) de la Universidad de Guadalajara.
- El fracaso de nuestra civilización (1980), edificio del Sistema de Educación Media y Superior (SEMS) de la Universidad de Guadalajara.
- Fantasía infantil (1982), DIF, Jalisco.
- La patria (1988), Procuraduría General de la República (PGR), México.
- Justicia y libertad (1988), Procuraduría General de la República (PGR), México.
- Historia de la medicina (1993), Hospital Civil "Fray Antonio Alcalde" Guadalajara.
External links
- Gabriel Flores biography at the official website of Jalisco
- Gabriel Flores profile at the Museum of Claudio Jiménez Vizcarra in Jalisco