Her Art

I've meandered through the art galleries in Buenos Aires, and now I explore the provinces of the Central Region. The jaunt is enough to only get an idea of how Argentina likes to express her feelings through the artworks and installations. Fabulous sculptures from the neoclassical and renaissance period aside, the paintings have a contemporary vibe to them that speaks of a populist culture in the 19th to 20th century.

The development of artistic styles in any country is closely tied with its political shifts and systems. Modern Argentine paintings did not fully gain an identity until 1983's return to democracy. Her previous dictatorship did not encourage avant-garde expressions nor a vibrant theatre scene.

What I have seen across the cities and provinces, seem to lean towards an adapted form of surrealism that is more or less defined as 'expressionism'. There's a wave of art that has stayed till today known as 'New Image Painting'. Often done in oils and acrylic on canvas, these paintings depict everyday scenes in a stark style. It does make for fascinating dinner conversations with Argentine associates who by now, think that Singapore could possibly be part of China, and we're all focused on wine, food and business with little interest in the country's culture, society, people and art. I'm not at all keen to discuss business during dinners. It completely spoils my appetite.