I don't know much what to say about Bogota. The capital city deserves so much more time than the few days I was able to spend there - while I enjoyed lots of what this magnificent City has to offer a traveler (and with family!), I also missed so much of its diverse mash-up of all of Colombia's culture, arts, and food found here due to the brevity of my visit. So for more proper commentary sprinkled throughout the post, I defer my words here to that of fellow traveler and friend, Matt Morrison - I only asked for his raw thoughts on the place.
Receding mountain fog on overland approach to Bogota, nestled in Colombia's Eastern Range. Colombia.
"...Bogota was a strange combination of rich and poor. There was extremely affluent areas mixed in with people who need to choose which bills to pay. ...there was a strong reminder of how Bogota used to be (extremely crime ridden) in that every house is heavily protected by locks and gates. However I felt pretty safe there."
I've forgot the artist and the title, yet it remains one of my most favorite paintings ever - Judgment Day; and its enormous. Note one of first-ever painted images of the female Succubus demon, bottom-right. Bogota, Colombia.
Main stairway entrance to Biblioteca Nacional - very democracy-themed. Look close... Bogota, Colombia.
Fernando Botero's many works were characterized by a style that has been often mimicked, but never duplicated, and often with a political glint. Here, a pictoral jest at a particular lady of means, and the aristocracy in general. Botero Museum, Bogota, Colombia.
An early draft of work supposedly incomplete. The style clarifies later.. Botero Museum, Bogota, Colombia.
A clear political slant - finished after the documented massacre of peasant workers' assembly. Botero Museum, Bogota, Colombia.
Another favorite of mine - quirky smile & all. A fine study of Botero's prowess in his own style. Botero Museum, Bogota, Colombia.
Aside from Botero works, the museum also included some works by his collaborators and visiting artist-friends. Here, one of my own all-time favorites by Picasso - self-portrait.
"In [the city]... are so many beautiful parts. The old national cathedral next to the government buildings; that square is really cool. There's also la Candelaria and some really cool public places (the library, fields, etc.) that you can just go and chill.
What was strange is the weather and the temperature. It's a city in the mountains and it's either raining or not raining. It felt as though it were fall all the time."
Spectacular column inside 17th century Museo Iglesia de Santa Clara - a la colonial Baroque. Bogota, Colombia.
Rare and exclusive; an after-hours visit to Cerro de Monserrate brought me close and personal with the statue of Fallen Christ. Monserrate, Bogota, Colombia.
Catedral Nacional, seat of the Archdiocese of Bogota, and main church for the President and all Colombia's big-wigs. Plaza de Bolivar, Bogota, Colombia.
More art from el Museo de Oro, this time really of gold. Shadowed human figure serves as the ephemeral model. Bogota, Colombia.
"Overall the city of Bogota is slightly strange because it is a very old city with a lot of history that is struggling to keep up with contemporary problems, stressed by the economic situation of the world and South America."
Thanks, Matt! Count on this: I will certainly return to Bogota, and with my camera once again at the ready.
The photos laid out heretofore are taken with an Olympus Stylus 1050 SW
These works by Tim Paez are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License
2 comments:
You got it right the first time...you look dashing!
chris cooking in China, it's wonderful
amazing paintings in Bogota, I love it
See you guys
Post a Comment