Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
EMILIO TARAZONA
DELFN 80 YEARS
Author-Publisher
Vctor Delfn Ramrez
Design and layout:
Carlos Gonzlez
Photography:
Jos Casals
Ana Mara Ortz
Baldomero Pestana
Casa Taller Delfn Archive
Print:
Forma e Imagen
Second edition, August 2008
Print Run:
2000 copies
ISBN: xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Legally deposited with
Perus National Library
Translation:
Marita Thomsen
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MASCARENHAS, Magali. Vctor Delfn. Artista. Soy un hombre feliz, pero eso
no me impide ver la tragedia de la vida. In: Cosas, n 18. Lima: December 21,
1992, pp. 12-13.
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See: ORMEO, Lupe. Los monstruos de Delfn. De Tacora Motors a las galeras
de arte. In: Estampa (Expreso supplement). Lima: October 25, 1970. No wonder
then that, as reported by a journalist around that same time, some of his metal
pieces still carry visible marks identifying their origin (such as the John Deere tractor companys name on some of them). In another interview the artist adds, ()
they say machines are the enemy of man, but I suffer and feel bad if I dont hear
my drills working. See: MASSEY, Peggy Good morning / Buenos das. In: La
Prensa. Lima: October 29 1970. And, also: AGUIRRE NIETO, Marisa. Vctor
Delfn virtuoso del hierro. In: La Imagen (La Prensa suplement). Lima: November
1,1970, pp. 12-13.
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J. B. A. La extraa historia del pintor de la selva. In: Caretas, year III, n 47. Lima:
August 1953, p. 29. He traveled there with his young family, but also with fellow
artists from the schools, most of whom returned quite quickly. Only the sculptor Alberto Guzmn would stay for a while and, even then, in the town of Tingo Mara.
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The period during which the artist is studying at the ENBA even with the absences is a crucial period in the history of Peruvian plastic arts. The second half
of the 40s to 1958 sees Delfn studying at the ENBA at the same time as abstract
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A style is consolidated
In 1965 Delfn returns to Lima after receiving an
employment offer in a new gallery opening in Perus
capital, which would later become known as Cultura
y Libertad. In spite of the differences in opinion that
quickly lead him to sever his ties with the gallery, he
decided to stay in Lima. In October the following
year his first solo exhibition took place at Art Center
in Miraflores. Delfn displayed his early development
and accomplishment gradually crystallizing into a
personal style marrying the academic and popular
world. Under the name Retablos the artist
showcased objects shaped as hinged doors from
molten lead, ceramics and wood. Carlos Rodrguez
Saavedra would later highlight that retablos are a
traditional European legacy, which Andean artists
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RODRIGEZ SAAVEDRA, Carlos. Los retablos de Vctor Delfn In: Fanal, vol.
XXII, n 84. Lima: IPC, 1967, pp. 7-11.
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Delfn harvests the spoils of our incipient mechanization turning scrap into
amazing sculptures. Metal that has ceased
to contribute to physical life is reborn to
spiritual life, transfigured by art
Alfonso La Torre
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This was a two-page document written as an open letter and distributed on the
streets by the Arte Nuevo group. It diagnosed internal irregularities and not only
did it question the legitimacy and transparency of the Festival, it exhorted all artists to boycott it. Furthermore it called for future festivals to be organized by a
different entity capable of showing artists and art more consideration, () IAC,
which acts as a promoter of avant-garde art, has generated a climate of mistrust
in the local art world, because of its lack of serious commitment towards young
local artists (), in our eyes it is therefore the antithesis of what an Institute of
Contemporary Art ought to be, (). These are the unyielding claims made in the
document, which points to the fact that Peruvian artists only received invitations
to the Festival a week before the deadline for presenting the documents required
to participate. Only one artist, Fernando de Szyszlo, was the exception to the
rule, but he, as a founding member, had close ties to the institution. See: ARTE
NUEVO. Con respecto al Festival Americano de Pintura y el Instituto de Arte
Contemporneo. Lima: Mimeo, 2 pp. (Manifiesto). For further information on
the Arte Nuevo group refer to the following study that is to be published shortly:
LPEZ Miguel and Emilio Tarazona Arte Nuevo y la vanguardia. A propsito
de una revuelta en las artes visuales de los aos Sesenta. Lima: 2006, ms (unpublished).
In addition to Vctor Delfn, the group was made up of: Luis Arias Vera, Teresa
Burga, Jaime Dvila, Gloria Gmez-Snchez, Emilio Hernndez Saavedra, Jos
Tang, Armando Varela and Luis Zevallos Hetzel.
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See: TARAZONA, Emilio. Accionismo en el Per. Rastros y fuentes para una primera cronologa. Lima: ICPNA, 2006. p. [16]-17.
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See its annual assessment published as: Las artes visuales In: El Comercio. Lima:
January 1, 1967.
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The event that years later would spark a fierce debate about what definitely was
a singular problematic area was the award of the National Prize for Culture to
Joaqun Lpez Antay in late 1975. He received the award for his lifes work producing imaginative retablos. This lead to public controversy about the similarities
and differences between so-called popular art and so-called universal art. This
dominant segment of plastic arts has been labeled in many ways, including fine
art or academic art, which are as emblematic and imprecise as the ones used as
converse labels, namely, popular art or folk art. This implies the possibility of replacing the former labels with a new category: unpopular art. Such categorization
would not only highlight the stubborn insistence on differentiating this area of
production from its subordinate relatives, but also the plain and simple difference
in the level of interest they generate from a strictly statistical, or demographic,
perspective.
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This even leads to his work being simultaneously exhibited at two major galleries La Artstica and Art Center. Only a single printed document links these two
exhibitions, in a manner that speaks volumes of how the art scene, at the time,
mechanically disassociated part of his production. It found it, () convenient to
exhibit [his work] separately () because it is one artists two different ways of
expressing himself: One belonging to a folk art type recreation related to popular
art and, the other, to seeking the avant-garde. In: Delfn. Lima: Galera La Artstica
Art Center, November 1967. (Exhibition catalogue). However this dichotomy
is erased by a review of the pieces showcased at each gallery where retablos or
reliefs and even applied arts or utilitarian objects, are included without distinction.
Symptomatically, this exhibition was held only a month before the artist was awarded First Prize in the category of Contemporary Folk Art at the Folk Art Biennial,
organized by the Folk Artists Association and held at the Lima Art Museum. The
award for Traditional Folk Art went to Lpez Antay at the same Biennial. See: [n/a]
Bienal de artesana. V. Delfn, verdadero maestro de la artesana contempornea.
In: La Prensa. Lima: August 30, 1967, p. 18.
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See: AGUIRRE NIETO, Marisa. Vctor Delfn virtuoso del hierro. In: La Imagen (La Prensa supplement). Lima: November 1, 1970, pp. [1], 12-13.
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MLAGA, Oscar. Vctor Delfn en la Bienal de Sao Paulo. In: Informe, year 4,
n 57. Lima: September 30, 1971, p. 64. (Interview).
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LAUER, Mirko. Los signos del zodiaco. In: Oiga n 303. Lima: December 13,
1968, p. 35.
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The purchase and restoration he undertook received significant support from some
companies that joined the artist during the months of hard personal work and sacrifice.
Regarding the proposal of an open dynamic space announced by Delfn, a journalist
commented at the time, Precisely because bending iron, which he usually does, takes
knowing how to bend selfishness. Delfns house in Barranco is living testimony to his
openness to others and to the old ideals instilled when hard times, poverty and troubles
ate into the flesh and soul. See: [n/a] Hospedaje Taller y Galera para artistas ofrece
nueva casa de Delfn en Barranco In: La Prensa. Lima: October 16, 1970.
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See: Feria artesanal hay en Barranco. In: Ojo. Lima: December 9, 1970.
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Fifteen sculptures in Caracas and seventeen in Miami even if other sources state
that they were twenty-two were the starting point for a much larger series of works,
which Delfn would exhibit in the following years in different Latin American cities.
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In: Vctor Delfn. Miami Museum of Modern Art. Miami: December 1970 January 1971 (Presentation of the catalogue).
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I make artifacts
and I dont care whether
people class them as folk
art, sculpture or avantgarde pieces
Vctor Delfn
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COUFFON, Claude. Sobre las aves de Vctor Delfn In: Aves de Amrica. Lima:
Casa Taller Delfn, December 19, 1975 January 5, 1976 (Catalogue).
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MASCARENHAS, Magali. Vctor Delfn. Artista. Soy un hombre feliz, pero eso
no me impide ver la tragedia de la vida. In: Cosas, n 18. Lima: December 21,
1992, pp. 12-13.
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HASTINGS, Rafael. Todo el amor In: Oiga. Lima: (around June-July), 1970, p.
31-32.
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Encounters, tolerance and diversity in the widest of senses. The Love Park is one
of the most visited places each Valentines day and over the last years the Peruvian TLGB Network (transvestites, lesbians, gays and bisexuals) stages an act there
called Love doesnt discriminate, which consists in several of its members going
there with their partners to put up placards and kiss in public next to the heterosexual couples there. On several occasions they have received warnings from
council officials for this action. Furthermore, a recent example of discrimination, in this case racial, by some establishments in Miraflores involved the discos
Phuket and Mama Batata, which were fined by Indecopi due to this charge in June
2007.
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DELFN, Vctor. Carta abierta a la juventud peruana. El fin del fujimontecinismo. In: La Repblica. Lima: March 23, 2000, p. 5.
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In the political Bestiary Vctor Delfn uses members of the then fujimorista government, who could have learnt a great deal from animals, as referents. In contrast
with his opinion regarding wild mammals, which for him stand out because of their
nobility, libido and energy, or birds in which he recognizes qualities virtually lost in
humans. Following this train of thought, it is interesting to highlight the images he
uses in the open letter to describe exceptional cases of people who, in those difficult times, demonstrated extraordinary qualities; such as the, () fatally wounded
bird Leonor La Rosa (Ibidem). Leonor La Rosa, former Army Intelligence Service
agent, was kidnapped and tortured in 1997 by other officers of the same, by then
discredited, institution dedicated to harassing the opposition. She was suspected of
having filtered information about human rights violations perpetrated by the Colina
Group to the press. The series also borrowed visual referents from Nueva cornica
y buen gobierno (1915-16) by Guamn Poma de Ayala. A chronicle testament to
the atrocities and excesses of the Spanish conquest and the yoke imposed on the
indigenous population. See: La corte del chino. Toda la fauna oficialista, al estilo
de Guamn Poma pero con el lpiz de Vctor Delfn. In: Caretas, year XLIX, n
1617. Lima: May 4, 2000, p. 47.
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the Civil Society Collective.31 A quick glance at this decisive year, 2000, left people incredulous: Fujimori was
re-elected, the most impressive and large-scale mobilization in Perus republican history was unleashed, the
mechanism used by his government to dismantle democracy in Perus powers of state was disclosed and
he fled Peru and resign as president from a shameless
exile in Japan. After this, a lengthy extradition process
began. Its success seemed imminent, but still underway, while these lines were written. The artist himself
was, along with other citizens, wounded by the impact
of a tear bomb during a milestone demonstration on
Perus National Day, July 28, the Marcha de los Cuatro
Suyos (Four Corners March).32
An emblematic canvas painted by Delfn during
those terrible and ominous years captures the spirit of
31
Toppling a dictator is usually not the result of a single masterstroke, but rather the
slow but determined construction of democratic consensus in each sector of civil
society. () A disruption of public awareness, which is also the awakening of the
most intimate individual conscience. BUNTINX, Gustavo. Lava la bandera: El
Colectivo Sociedad Civil y el derrocamiento cultural de la dictadura de Fujimori y
Montesinos In: Quehacer n 158. Lima: Desco, March 2006.
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This demonstration was planned as a peaceful march. It was, however, rudely oppressed by the dictatorship, which even went so far as to detonate several public
buildings in an attempt to accuse those participating in the demonstration of terrorism. The blasts left six murdered National Bank security guards. The site where
the bank used to be located was left in ruins up until a few years ago, and then a
stele with a piece by Delfn was put up in memory of the victims of that painful day.
That day a tear bomb was launched directly at Delfns face, it hit his right ear and
caused serious injuries. See: DELFN, Vctor. EL criminal apunt a mi cabeza
vi que la cpsula vena hacia mi rostro. In: Liberacin. Lima: August 1, 2000, pp.
14-15. (Testimony).
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has always been part of a greater social and political machinery made up of operators and workers in
different areas. Only together with everyone else can
they fire the engines that should procure knowledge,
culture and education as indispensable sources of
action and freedom.
Lima, June, 2007
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Everything is useful:
Stones, shreds of glass,
machine parts
Vctor Delfn
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FOTO ALEJANDRA
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Chronology
1927
Vctor Delfn was born on December 20 in Lobitos,
Piura.
1943
Moves to Lima.
1945
Accepted by the National School of Fine Arts (ENBA)
in Lima.
1953
Interrupts his studies at the ENBA and settles in Tingo
Maria.
(around) 1956
Resumes studies at the ENBA.
1958
Graduates from the ENBA with a degree in painting.
1959
Awarded the Ignacio Merino National Prize for Painting
for a painting entitled: Homenaje al Obrero de Construccin Civil (Homage to the Construction Worker)
Appointed director of the Puno School of Fine Arts.
1961
Directs the Ayacucho School of Fine Arts.
During these years he visits many folk art fairs in different provinces of Peru.
1964
Moves to Santiago in Chile, where he teaches art at the
Providencia and Las Condes cultural institutes.
1965
Returns to Lima.
Sets up his workshop in the Bajada de los Baos, in
Barranco.
1966
Exhibits a first series of his Retablos at the Art Center
gallery.
Around October he founds the group Arte Nuevo
with Lus Arias Vera, Teresa Burga, Jaime Dvila, Glo-
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1974
In April he designs a set for the play The Can Opener
by Vctor Lanoux, which was staged in Lima by the Los
Cuatro theater company from Santiago in Chile.
In May he is awarded the Peruvian Cross of Military
Merit in the Grade of Knight.
A special 500-copy edition of the book Delfin 10 years
64 74 was published in Guayaquil under the auspice
of Humberto Mor.
A documentary about Delfn produced by Procine and directed by Carlos Ferrand and Pedro Neira is completed.
In August he opens an exhibition of reliefs, second series of Birds of America, at the Lima Art Museum.
The pieces were later exhibited at Oswaldo Guayasamns
Inticori gallery, located in his house in Quito.
1975
In January he inaugurates an exhibition of his third series
of Birds of America at Colombias National Museum.
This is the starting-point for an extended Latin American tour with this exhibition, alternated with returns to
Lima. In Costa Rica he exhibits at the National Librarys
Julin Marchena Gallery and in the Dominican Republic
at the Santo Domingo Museo del Hombre.
In December he showcases a series of small-scale pieces
in ceramics, wood, aluminum and silver at his CasaTaller.
1976
In May a retrospective of his work opens in Arequipa at
the La Compaa Cloisters sponsored by the Arequipa
office of the National Institute for Culture.
In September he opens an exhibition of sculptures and
drawings at La Galerie in Bogota.
1977
Creates 21 life-size animal sculptures in brass sheets and
exhibits them in October and November at the Bacardi
Art Gallery in Miami and New York.
1978
In April he exhibits a collection of his works at the Lima
Sheraton celebrating its fifth anniversary.
Shortly after he also exhibits tapestry designed by him
and produced by the Clisa carpet company.
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1979
In January he inaugurates the exhibition Iron and
bronze at La Galera in Quito.
1980
Around May he exhibits at the Art and Culture Center
in Florida.
In September the new headquarters of the Industrial
Construction Bank (BIC) is inaugurated and it opens
with an in-door exhibition of a monumental sculptural
relief by Delfn.
In December he exhibits a collection of folk art pieces
and jewelry in iron, bronze, gold and silver.
1981
Participates in the 3000 years of sculptures in Peru exhibition at the Lima Art Museum.
1982
Signs a two-year exclusive representation contract with
the LElan Vitale INC gallery in New York.
By invitation from the Mayor of Piura, Francisco Hilbck,
he commences a monumental sculpture entitled Peace
Dove for the Piura city Civic Center. After some criticism the piece was left unfinished until 1995 when the
Cultural Pictorial Passage was inaugurated.
The German critic Selden Rodman publishes his study:
Artists in tune with Their World. Masters of popular Art
in the Americas and their relation to the Folk Tradition.
In December he exhibits at the Architect Associations
Art Gallery in Pichincha, Ecuador.
1985
In January he installs a white dove as a tribute to the
visit by Pope John Paul II. It is a public sculpture on
the Av. Salaverry in front of the Apostolic Nunciature.
1986
In June he exhibits a collection of pictorial pieces at the
Editorial Concepts gallery in Miami. In December he
installs a monumental piece in the Plaza of Technical
Cooperation within the headquarters of the National
Service of Occupational Training in Industry (SENATI) on the occasion of its 25th anniversary.
Over the following years he alternates living in Lima
with regular visits and short stays in New York City.
1990
In March he is awarded the Artistic Palms by the Ministry of Education for his contribution to popular art.
1992
In October the installation of his monumental sculpture The Kiss and remodeling the so-called Love Park
in Miraflores begin.
1983
In October he participates in the I Trujillo Biennial as a
guest artist.
1993
In February he inaugurates his sculpture in the Love Park.
In July he begins the long process of decorating the interiors of the Three Crosses Temple located next to the
Mercedes Basilica in Paita.
Around December he inaugurates a retrospective exhibition at the Luis Antonio Eguiguren Cultural Complex
in Piura with 40 pieces brought up from Lima.
Designs a sculpture on the mother-child theme for the
Childrens Park ine esa ciudad.
1984
In June he presents a sketch of a mosaic for the Daniel
Alcidez Carrin Socio-Cultural Circle (CESCDAC) at
the Trujillo National University. In September his work
is included in the exhibition The Avant-garde of the 60s
curated by Gustavo Buntinx for the Miraflores Town
Hall Gallery.
That same month one of his pieces is included in the
permanent exhibition of the legendary Chelsea Hotel in
New York.
1995
On March 1 he travels to the border to participate
in the Caucus for Peace bringing together Peruvian
and Ecuadorian artists and intellectuals rejecting the
threat of conflict between these two countries. Oswaldo Guayasamn, Jorge Enrique Adoum, Jorge Pedro
Vega and Carlos Caldern Chico participated from
Ecuador; Vctor Delfn, Arturo Corcuera, Leslie Lee,
Enrique Polanco and Edmundo Pantoja participated
from Peru.
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1998
Creates a monument for the Los Cndores roundabout
in La Molina.
Receives an invitation to participate in celebrating the
50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at Palacio Chaillot, Paris.
2002
Awarded the Bernardo OHiggins Medal by the Chilean
Government.
Produces a sculpture on Plaza Peru in Santiago in
Chile.
In December he inaugurates the exhibition In black and
white, with pieces by Leslie Lee, Roxana Cuba, Vctor
Delfn and Ana Mara Ortiz, all members of the group
La Resistencia, at the Petro-Peru Gallery.
2000
In February he is decorated Officer of the National Order of Merit by the Ecuadorian government.
One of his pieces is featured on a poster for an event
organized by several citizens associations at Campo de
Marte.
2003
One of his pieces is included in the Generation of
68 exhibition Between agony and the celebration of
modernity, third in the series Generational Tensions
curated by Alfonso Castrilln at ICPNA in Miraflores
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