Félix Arauz
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Félix Arauz (born 1935, Guayaquil, Ecuador) is one of the most important painters to come out of Ecuador in the last fifty years. Arauz is among the art circles of Enrique Tábara, Aníbal Villacís, Jose Carreño and Juan Villafuerte. In 1957, Arauz began studying under Caesar Andrade Faini at the School of Beautiful Arts. During his second year his father died leaving Arauz feeling nostalgic and isolated. Arauz funneled his emotions into his work creating some of the most beautiful, heartfelt and dreamlike imagery to date. Both his use of color and his compositions are simply brilliant and leave a huge lasting impression on the viewer. Arauz's subjects usually include, surreal flower arrangements, the innocence of children, faces, trees of life, landscapes and abstracts all of which are created with a unique dreamlike aesthetic.
In 1970, through his friend, Jaime Andrade, Arauz exhibited two paintings at the Pan American Union in Washington, D.C. and at Gallery Kromex in New York. Both exhibits were a great success. In 1971, Arauz obtained The Great Prize of Hall Julio in Guayaquil.
In 1987, Arauz traveled to Basel, Switzerland and exhibited with his friend Eloísa Melo. From there, Arauz traveled to Brussels and exhibitied with friend Víctor Mud. Finally, Arauz met up with longtime friend and collegue Jose Carreño in Paris.
Arauz paints in many mediums but his preferred method is oleo texturado, or oil paint mixed with sand. It is from the intersection of the dream and the reflection, from where Arauz's art emerges from. Each Series, each picture, elaborates with greater clarity. Very instinctively, Arauz exerts plenary session dominion through his calligraphic touch that is, without a doubt, one of the most appraised gifts of the great artists. But that gift comes with the artist, and it is necessary to take care of it, to nurture it, by means of a work destiny, and this is important in the life of Félix Aráuz. To work indefatigable, enthusiastically, every day, without truces nor lethargies, but eluding the trends to reproduce works that had demand or to work summoned single by commercialist aims as it happens in many.
Arauz has been a professor at the School of Beautiful Arts since 1966 and continues to paint in his studio in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
[edit] Awards and medals
1962, 1965 & 1969 Second Prize, National Hall October, Guayaquil, Ecuador
1963 & 1972 First Prize National Hall October, Guayaquil, Ecuador
1968 Great prize, Gold Medal National Hall Julio, Guayaquil, Ecuador
1971 Great Prize Hall Julio, Guayaquil, Ecuador
1972 First Prize, National Hall October, Guayaquil, Ecuador
1975 Second Prize, National Hall Julio, Guayaquil, Ecuador
1981 Gold Medal of Artistic Merit, granted by the illustrious Municipality of Guayaquil.
1996 Gold Brush Cultural Association the Pains.
[edit] References
- Municipalidad de Guayaquil - www.guayaquil.gov.ec/data/salondejulio/antecedentes.htm
- Ecuadorian Art, Salvat, Volume IV.
