The legacy of Torres García arrives at the Bellas Artes

Starting Thursday, the museum celebrates the 150th anniversary of the birth of the great Uruguayan artist with an exhibition that brings together nearly 80 works, including paintings, drawings, illustrations, toys, engravings and calligraphy books
Joaquín Torres García, the famous Uruguayan artist, is being honored at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of his birth.
The exhibition Joaquín Torres García. Essay and conviction, which opens on Thursday, November 28, at 7 p.m., brings together nearly 80 works, including paintings, drawings, illustrations, toys, engravings and calligraphy books by the master.
The exhibition is curated by María Cristina Rossi, who has selected pieces made by Torres García during his stays in cities such as Barcelona, Paris, New York and Montevideo. The exhibition includes nine paintings from the Museum's heritage, as well as works from public and private Argentine collections.
The exhibition begins with the artist's first illustrations for books and magazines, and is complemented by a section dedicated to his theoretical production and handwritten books, essential in each period of his artistic work.
Andrés Duprat, director of the Museum, maintained "the importance of this exhibition as part of the tributes to the Uruguayan master," whose work has had "a significant international projection." He also pointed out that Torres García's theoretical and artistic production, as well as the group work spaces he promoted in Europe and Uruguay, "are key to understanding his legacy, characterized by a universe of symbols that today make up the visual culture of the West."
The exhibition also highlights the human dimension of Torres García, who, according to Rossi, managed to face challenges with composure and resilience, symbolizing a repositioning of all Latin America with his avant-garde gesture of inverting the map.

The exhibition is an opportunity to explore the dynamics of experimentation and conviction that characterized the artist, who sought new plastic solutions and wrote about his motivations throughout his career.
Torres García left an indelible mark on the art world with his theory of constructive universalism and the founding of the Taller Torres García. This artistic movement, one of the most influential in the region, focused on teaching painting based on geometry and the use of color.

Born in Montevideo on July 28, 1874, he moved with his family to Catalonia in 1891 due to financial difficulties. There, he began his artistic training under the tutelage of Josep Vinardell and later entered the Official School of Fine Arts in Barcelona. During his stay in Barcelona, he interacted with prominent figures in the art world such as Pablo Picasso and Antoni Gaudí, even collaborating on the design of stained glass for the Sagrada Familia.

Throughout his career, Torres García explored various facets of art, from painting to sculpture to writing. In 1910, he was commissioned to paint murals for the Uruguayan pavilion at the Universal Exposition, which marked a milestone in his career. However, his work was not without controversy; his frescoes at the Palace of the Generalitat of Catalonia were criticized and eventually covered by other paintings.
In 1921, seeking a more modern environment, he moved to New York, where he attempted to establish a factory for wooden toys inspired by his children. However, his stay in the city was challenging due to the language barrier and lack of opportunities. Later, he moved to Paris, where he met Piet Mondrian and joined the Cercle et Carré group, which significantly influenced his artistic style.

Back in Montevideo in 1934, Torres García founded the Asociación de Arte Constructivo and began teaching at the Faculty of Architecture at the University of the Republic. His legacy lives on through the Taller Torres García, which continued to operate until 1967 under the direction of his disciples. This workshop was a breeding ground for talent, training artists such as Julio U. Alpuy and José Gurvich.

Torres García's work is characterized by its focus on geometry and the use of universal symbols, reflecting his belief in art as a means of expressing reason and cosmic harmony. His paintings, which are part of important collections of Latin American art, are a testament to his vision of art as a universal language. The artist died in Montevideo on August 8, 1949.

*Joaquín Torres García. Ensayo y convicción, at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Av. del Libertador 1473, CABA. It opens on Thursday, November 28, at 7 p.m., and can be visited until March 16, 2025, in rooms 37 to 40 on the first floor of the Museum, from Tuesday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Free admission.
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