No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchiveRafa Fernández and cats on display at Galeria Valanti

Rafa Fernández and cats on display at Galeria Valanti

An art gallery in central San José will exhibit paintings of cats as part of a tribute to one of Costa Rica’s most famous living painters, Rafa Fernández.

The Costa Rica Country Club in the western neighborhood of Escazú will host a free showing on Thursday at 7 p.m., according to an announcement at a press conference.

Fernández joined six other painters and gallery directors at the conference. The 78-year-old Fernández arrived in a wheelchair and his daughter Alma Fernández spoke on his behalf.

“For my father, cats are the protagonists of pictures because they have an element of mystery and a particular personality,” Alma Fernández said.

Fernández was born in San José in 1935, growing up with dreams of being a bullfighter, according to Galeria Valanti’s biography. Fernández’s work first appeared at a show in 1954 at the National Theater in central San José. He was internationally acclaimed by the 1970s, with his work appearing in galleries in the U.S., Europe and other parts of Latin America.

The subjects of most of Fernández’s paintings are women, and his work includes both portraits and full figures. A gallery can be found here.

One of the other artists whose work will be displayed, Karen Yu, agreed with Fernández that every cat has a different personality.

“They are life companions in everything,” Yu said. “It is an inspiring theme to have an animal to work with.”

The cat gallery paintings include realistic and somber works such as an image of cats in cages. Other works are of a more playful tone, including a parody of Leonardo Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” with cats cast in the roles of Jesus and his disciples. Galeria Valanti has more information on the exhibition on its website.

Francisco Munguía, the painter of “The Last Supper” parody, confessed to having a deep affection for animals, noting he lived with 22 dogs and two cats.

 “For me, cats have a very surprising dynamic with dogs, eating with the dogs,” Munguía said. “This work is a tribute to that life.”

Note: An earlier version of this story mistakenly reported that the exhibition was at Galeria Valenti in Barrio Escalante.

Cart Art Exhibit

Manuel Munguía poses beside his “La Ultima Gatuna” at the Costa Rica Country Club in Escazú on Thursday.


Alberto Font

Trending Now

Costa Rica and Panama Seek Gold Cup Glory Against North American Giants

With no Caribbean teams advancing, a Central American contingent made up of Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Guatemala heads into the quarterfinals of the...

Costa Rica Maintains Economic Stability Amid Global Tensions

Costa Rica is holding steady economically despite global tensions sparked by conflicts involving Israel, the United States, and Iran, according to Federico Quesada Chaves,...

Costa Rica Pushes USA to the Brink but Falls in Penalty Heartbreak

If you just caught the end of the USA vs. Costa Rica Gold Cup quarterfinal, you probably feel like you need another cup of...

Honduras Seizes $2 Million, Gold-Plated Pistols in Drug Raid

Honduran authorities struck a blow against drug cartels, seizing over $2 million in cash, war rifles, and flashy gold-plated pistols in Copán, a northwest...

Retired Nicaraguan Army Captain Sentenced to 50 Years for Treason

A retired military officer was sentenced to 50 years in prison in Nicaragua for the crime of "treason against the homeland," his family denounced...

Costa Rica Extradites David Ochy to Panama for Alleged Money Laundering

Costa Rican authorities have extradited David Ochy, a former Panamanian presidential candidate, to Panama, where he faces charges of money laundering tied to the...
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica