Héctor Poleo talks about the work of Oswaldo Vigas
Héctor Poleo
Valencia, Venezuela. August 14th, 1952
Oswaldo Vigas is not as some may say, a doctor who does painting but a painter who works with medicine. So clear is the opinion of the great Venezuelan artist Héctor Poleo. We talked with him during a break in the 10th Annual Exhibition of Plastic Arts Arturo Michelena when we were able to separate him from a large group of fans who occupied his attention.
We wanted to hear your opinion about the much-discussed laureated painting by Vigas Mujer maternal, Arturo Michelena Award 1952-, as well as its concept in regard to the quality of the 10th Annual Exhibition of Plastic Arts Arturo Michelena.
Vigas is a young painter full of restlessness, in constant search for art, -says Poleo convinced-. Those qualities are giving him a name in the national painting scene, and proved to the highest degree that the valuable prize that he has been awarded with was well deserved.
Poleo explains what happens with the adverse opinion of many people toward the paintings of Vigas. It is that they have become accustomed to works that represent more or less exactly the painted model. Hence that they show themselves uncompromised towards the new painting styles, towards the creative drive of young artists who have escaped from the traditional.
However, Poleo states that he does not share the concept he has heard from some people that say: Some claim that Vigas is a formed, mature painter who has reached the pinnacle of his career. I don’t think so, and I'm sure that Vigas either. On the contrary, one of his merits, as I said, is the permanent concern to excel, to find new paths where art is infinite. Because art, like everything related to the grandeur of the spirit, is something that never stops to be learnt. Goals continue to occur one after another endlessly. And the artist that considers to have reached his peak is finally declaring himself truncated, defeated. And this is decidedly not the case of Vigas.
And Poleo repeats his statement about the painter that makes medicine.
As for the 10th Annual Exhibition of Plastic Arts Arturo Michelena, Poleo praises it enthusiastically. He has attended it several times, and he finds the one hold this year, artistically speaking, far superior to the ones made on previous years.
There is undoubtedly a higher quality. All pictorial tendencies are superbly represented, giving this Exhibition a high artistic quality. Undoubtedly, the Ateneo de Valencia can be proud of what this brilliant victory means.
In conclusion, the remarkable artist spoke enthusiastically about the cultural movement that he has observed in Valencia, and the good impression received during his visit to the modern building that is being built to harbor the headquarters of the Ateneo, which will be ready later this month.
I have to note that this building, apart from an objection I have in relation to the Exhibition Hall, is truly magnificent. It is truly a great leap forward in the cultural progress of this city.