The emergence of abstraction as an artistic movement in the 20th century gave rise to distinct identities in Latin America, heavily influenced by universal constructivism and modernism. In Colombia, the growing interest in abstract languages during the mid-20th century led to the development of new voices that enriched the historical legacy of the genre. Among the most expressive and profound of these voices is undoubtedly Jorge Riveros, whose initial geometric approach to abstraction emerged through Eurocentric tendencies that evolved into a singular form of abstraction.
Riveros emigrated to Germany in the 1960s, and it was during his stay in Bonn he discovered the tradition of German geometric abstraction, giving rise to a series of works strongly tied to the genre, forging a distinctive visual identity that would accompany him throughout his life; however, many of his works created in Germany were sketches that found their realization in his last exhibit at our space; they were presented through various mediums and formats, works on canvas, wood, xilogravures, and monumental sculptures, which today form part of his extensive oeuvre. Over time, Riveros' abstract geometric universe has not remained static; instead, it has evolved through various stages, series, and modes of expression, expanding prolifically and limitlessly to the present day.
Through the evolution of his work, Jorge Riveros offers unique opportunities to explore countless worlds that manifest throughout his expansive artistic career. This journey, which spans more than 70 years of tireless dedication grounded in profound and disciplined research, is a testament to his unique artistic evolution.
In his oeuvre, we encounter ideas rigorously expressed through a geometric interpretation in some of the works selected for this exhibit; in others, abstractions emerge, revealing forms intertwined with ancestral iconographies, added to previously unseen pieces gesturally characterized and with an abstraction that differs from the playful geometry of parallel works. These elements, collectively, form a tribute to the philosophy rooted in universal constructivism, resting upon an absolute abstraction as Irving Sandler described when theorizing Torres García's work, which he believed was "motivated by a passionate mystical-metaphysical concept of universal history. Uniting geometry, abstraction, and the painting of his time…".
It is essential to underscore that Riveros' work reflects the mandate of Joaquín Torres García, who, adhering to the absolute principles of universal constructivism, delved into an abstract language that, through each of his works, leads to "unity as the pure principle of all things."
The exhibited works were created over seven decades, marked by social adversities that foretold dark times. Yet, in the present, these works reveal a hope that no one could have predicted. Every piece is an eloquent witness, heralding the arrival of a promising and optimistic future, now realized in their presence.
Jorge Riveros is an internationally renowned artist, educator, visual philosopher, and art theorist. His decades of lectures at Colombia's most prestigious institutions and his role as a rigorous teacher to a generation of young artists who were trained under the strict discipline of his instruction are a testament to his significant contributions. In his work and life, Riveros embodies the austerity that abstraction demands and the inherent sublimity that any work of lasting significance commands. Abstract, constructivist in both spirit and form, geometric by nature, a painter's painter in every sense, sculptor, muralist, and founder of a school, but above all, a champion of resilience and a bearer of a timeless message that, in all meritocracies, commands both our admiration and the artistic pride of Colombia.
Francisco Arévalo
Curator
