The exhibition “The message behind Botero’s painting”

A painting by the master Botero worth half a million euros is auctioned to help those affected by the disasters in Valencia

The exhibition “The message behind Botero’s painting”, which was exhibited at the Centro Centro space from November 23 to January 4, 2024, and is currently being shown virtually at the Reina Sofía Foundation, consists of two parts. On the one hand, it presents the original work by the Colombian artist that is now being auctioned, “Still Life”, a still life depicting a table overflowing with food. On the other, with the intervention of photographic retouching, it reveals the opposite reality: the food shortage that many families face, highlighting the important work carried out by Food Banks for those who need it most, Begoña Forques tells us.

This initiative arises as a result of the donation of the work “Still Life” made by Fernando Botero to the Reina Sofía Foundation before his death and carried out by his children following his will. «This generous response from the master and his family was given after the Foundation's request to collaborate with its aid program for Food Banks», says the Queen Sofia Foundation. According to the painter's son, Juan Carlos Botero, during the presentation in Madrid, «this gift was of great importance, since it was his last donation in life». A year later, on November 21, this painting will be auctioned at Sotheby's New York, with the proceeds going entirely to the Spanish Federation of Food Banks to purchase milk, baby food and any other needs that the Food Banks in the areas affected by the DANA may require.
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