Carlos Gamez de Francisco exhibit explores Louis XVI
After a year as artist in residence, Cuban painter Carlos Gamez de Francisco has opened a major exhibition at the Muhammad Ali Center in downtown Louisville, which will run through Jan. 16, 2011. The Last Words of Louis XVI consists of more than 30 works — painted in both watercolors and inks and in a combination of acrylics and oils — that explores the court of French King Louis XVI, for whom the city is named.
"I have been trying to influence my art with this revolutionary and important moment throughout history," said Gamez de Francisco, "working with my best technique, and experimenting, using new symbols, using beauty and irony."
The city of Louisville was named for the last king of France, who sent soldiers to assist the Americans during the Revolutionary War, and who was executed in 1793 in the French Revolution.
Gamez de Francisco’s year-long thematic work came as part of the center residency program, which was created in 2008 to foster and encourage the creative potential of its selected artist and to offer inspiration, exposure, and engagement to the community. As part of the residence, each artist develops a major exhibit related to a theme.
"I have never painted so long just in one idea," Gamez de Francisco said. "I think I took the challenge to paint faster and better every day for this project."
Gamez de Francisco received his training from the School of Fine Arts in Holguín, Cuba. Curator Noemí Díaz Vichef described Gamez de Francisco “as an innovative psychologist with a touch of sociologist who mercilessly and unscrupulously pries into our most inner secrets.” John Faulkner, who manages the program for the center, notes that Gamez de Francisco’s influences include Baroque portraitist Diego Velazquez and modern surrealist Salvador Dalí.
"To all the people who have sponsored this exhibition, my sincere appreciation," the painter said. "This has been the greatest opportunity in my artistic career."
Posted by Ivonne Rovira
