Victor Delfín
Encyclopedia
Victor Delfín is one of the leading sculptors and painters in Peru
.
He is best known for his monumental El Beso
(the kiss), a large sculpture unveiled in 1993 in the "Love Park" by the Pacific Ocean
in the Miraflores
district of Lima
. Many newlyweds visit the park to pose in front of the sculpture. "It also draws throngs of lovers from all areas of Lima celebrating Valentine's Day
each February
14."
Delfín has a worldwide reputation; his art has been exhibited across South and North America and is housed in major museum and private collections. Delfín is highly regarded for his massive metalwork sculptures of birds, horses and other animals, as well as sensual, often sexually-charged paintings. His art can also have an strong political theme, such as 1996 chronicle that denounced, with great irony, the corruption and authoritarianism during the regime of Alberto Fujimori
. Delfín's studio, in the artistic Barranco District of Lima, overlooks the ocean. His house, filled with his paintings and sculptures, is now a bed-and-breakfast run by his daughter.
Delfín works with a range of materials—wood, metal, canvas, even polychrome acrylics and aluminum. "One of the main distinguishing features of Delfín's work is that in the context of experimentalism, which at the time was mainly focused on art styles, systems and institutions and would lead to a crisis of representation and an ensuing widening of the material possibilities of production in plastic arts, Delfín also took it upon himself to ensure the continuity of a creative current socially subordinated to the current proclaimed as 'art' by modernist idealism."
Delfín was the youngest child in a poor family of a welder in Lobitos, a fishing village, and grew up watching his father forge metals in his workshop. He graduated from the National School of Fine Arts in Lima (:es:Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes de Lima) in 1958. In 1959, he was appointed director of Puno
School of Fine Arts. After a brief stint as an art teacher in Chile, he set up his workshop in Barranco in 1965. In 1967, he was awarded first prize in the category of contemporary folk art at the Folk Art biennial in Lima. Many other awards and honors have followed, and Delfín has exerted great influence over the development of Peruvian art in the later half of the 20th century.
Delfín helped organize writers and authors in opposition to Fujimori and in 1995 participated in the Caucus for Peace, which brought together artists to protest the threat of conflict between Peru and Ecuador
. In 2000, Delfín addressed young Peruvians in an open letter, encouraging their protests but warning "of a looming struggle against the dictator retaking power."
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
.
He is best known for his monumental El Beso
El Beso
El Beso is a large sculpture in the "Love Park" by the Pacific Ocean in the Miraflores district of Lima. It depicts the sculptor, Victor Delfín, and his wife kissing. According to local accounts, the mayor of the district holds a competition for the couple who could sustain the longest kiss, and...
(the kiss), a large sculpture unveiled in 1993 in the "Love Park" by the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
in the Miraflores
Miraflores
Miraflores is the name of several places in Spanish-speaking countries. It is also the name of a battle fought in Peru in 1881. It means "to watch flowers" or "flower's view" from mira and flores .-Places:Europe...
district of Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
. Many newlyweds visit the park to pose in front of the sculpture. "It also draws throngs of lovers from all areas of Lima celebrating Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day
Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496...
each February
February
February is the second month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. It is the shortest month and the only month with fewer than 30 days. The month has 28 days in common years and 29 days in leap years...
14."
Delfín has a worldwide reputation; his art has been exhibited across South and North America and is housed in major museum and private collections. Delfín is highly regarded for his massive metalwork sculptures of birds, horses and other animals, as well as sensual, often sexually-charged paintings. His art can also have an strong political theme, such as 1996 chronicle that denounced, with great irony, the corruption and authoritarianism during the regime of Alberto Fujimori
Alberto Fujimori
Alberto Fujimori Fujimori served as President of Peru from 28 July 1990 to 17 November 2000. A controversial figure, Fujimori has been credited with the creation of Fujimorism, uprooting terrorism in Peru and restoring its macroeconomic stability, though his methods have drawn charges of...
. Delfín's studio, in the artistic Barranco District of Lima, overlooks the ocean. His house, filled with his paintings and sculptures, is now a bed-and-breakfast run by his daughter.
Delfín works with a range of materials—wood, metal, canvas, even polychrome acrylics and aluminum. "One of the main distinguishing features of Delfín's work is that in the context of experimentalism, which at the time was mainly focused on art styles, systems and institutions and would lead to a crisis of representation and an ensuing widening of the material possibilities of production in plastic arts, Delfín also took it upon himself to ensure the continuity of a creative current socially subordinated to the current proclaimed as 'art' by modernist idealism."
Delfín was the youngest child in a poor family of a welder in Lobitos, a fishing village, and grew up watching his father forge metals in his workshop. He graduated from the National School of Fine Arts in Lima (:es:Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes de Lima) in 1958. In 1959, he was appointed director of Puno
Puno
Puno is a city in southeastern Peru, located on the shore of Lake Titicaca. It is the capital city of the Puno Region and the Puno Province with a population of approximately 100,000. The city was established in 1668 by viceroy Pedro Antonio Fernández de Castro as capital of the province of...
School of Fine Arts. After a brief stint as an art teacher in Chile, he set up his workshop in Barranco in 1965. In 1967, he was awarded first prize in the category of contemporary folk art at the Folk Art biennial in Lima. Many other awards and honors have followed, and Delfín has exerted great influence over the development of Peruvian art in the later half of the 20th century.
Delfín helped organize writers and authors in opposition to Fujimori and in 1995 participated in the Caucus for Peace, which brought together artists to protest the threat of conflict between Peru and Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
. In 2000, Delfín addressed young Peruvians in an open letter, encouraging their protests but warning "of a looming struggle against the dictator retaking power."
External links
- Website of Second Home Peru, Delfín's home converted into B&B
- Photographs of Delfín in his studio by Canadian photographer Carey Nash
- Photographs of Delfín's art in his home
- Biography of Delfín, website of Rogallery, Long Island City, NY
- Interview with Delfín (in Spanish)
- Profile of Delfín (in Spanish)
- Filmed biography of Delfín, part 1 (in Spanish)
- Biography, part 2
- Biography, part 3
- Biography, part 4
- Biography, part 5