Antonio Pujía
Antonio Pujía (born 1929) is an Argentine sculptor. Through his artwork he has always honored women, but he has also denounced the world´s horrors of famine and war.
Personal Life
Antonio Pujía was born in Polia, a small town in South Italy, in June 11, 1929. In May 1937 he emigrated with his mother and older sister Carmela to Argentina, where his father Vittorio (who had traveled when Antonio was only two years old) was expecting them. Since his early childhood (and because his difficulty with the Spanish language) he began to draw elements of reality that will attract his attention by the novelty meant for. Upon graduation, the teacher guides students in their future education and tells Pujía that he should follow Fine Arts.[1]
He has a son from his first marriage: Vittorio Pujia, a musician who lives in France. In 1960 he joined for love Susana Nicolai (a Psychologist and Ceramist) his lifelong partner, with whom he has two children: Lino Pujía (an Argentine filmmaker)[2] and Sandro Pujía (an Argentine photographer). [3]
Education
Pujía began attending the Buenos Aries's numerous studios in 1943, developing an interest in painting and sculpture. One of his early mentors was the realist sculptor Rogelio Yrurtia. He obtained a MFA in Sculpture, from the National College of Fine Arts Ernesto de la Cárcova (1954). He also earned a degree as a Professor of Sculpture from the National School of Fine Arts Prilidiano Pueyrredón (1950) and a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts (Drawing) from the School of Fine Arts Manuel Belgrano (1946).
Artistic life
Colón Theatre: 1956 - 1970
In 1956 Pujia won a competition to be the head of newly created Scenic Sculpture Workshop Department at the Colón Theatre, continuing working as director until 1970. From this period comes his fascination with music and dance, two of his favorite subjects. Regularly attends the dancers classes and take endless notes on charcoal on paper. Pujía was close to a number of the opera house's ballet company dancers, and he created a bust of Norma Fontenla (on display at the theatre's foyer). He established his own atelier, and left his post at the Colón Theatre in 1970 to teach at his studio, full-time.
¿Biafra?: 1971
This series of sculptures in reference to the Nigerian Civil War or otherwise known as "Biafra War", displayed a departure in his style, which began to dramatize social and global problems. ¿Biafra? has its sad moment of inspiration in hunger and death that ravage that area of Africa, although it is obvious from the title itself to these scourges re probation anywhere.[4] Pujía said: these works are a reflection of the scourge of hunger, I focused on the Biafran guys, but the meaning was wider ... because I think that a scourge of this kind is the most unfair thing that we humans can make, with the hunger of our children who are totally helpless and dependent on us.[5] A casual observation of a photograph of a child in Biafra was triggering the theme of this Pujía´s work. The search for a categorically own image emerged as something long matured, hurt by the painful stimulus. The series of bronze and other materials which the author called ¿Biafra? is among the most valuable of Argentina sculpture of all time.[6]
Designed medals: 1971 - 2010
Beginning in 1971, Antonio Pujía has created several artistic medals to commemorate private and national events, as well as to reward renowned people. A medal is, strictly speaking, a small, flat, and round (at times, ovoid) piece of metal that has been sculpted, molded, cast, struck, stamped, or some way marked with an insignia, portrait, or other artistic rendering. A medal may be awarded to a person or organization as a form of recognition for sporting, military, scientific, academic, or various other achievements. An artist who creates medals or medallions is called a "medallist" (UK) or "medalist" (US).[7]
- 1971:Grand Prize SADAIC (Argentina Association of Authors and Composers).
- 1978: TV Award of the Argentine Chamber of Television.
- 1979: SADAIC Awards Medal to authorial right.
- 1980: Plaque commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Colon Theatre.
- 1980: Medal and Trophy for Clarín.
- 1980: Medal commemorating the First Centenary of the Jockey Club of Buenos Aires.
- 1980: Medal to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the founding of Buenos Aires City.
- 1983: Medal to celebrate Argentina´s return to democracy with the inauguration of Raúl Alfonsín.
- 1992: Trophies for Techno Entrepreneurs by the Argentine Credit Bank.
- 1993: Trophy Award for ARCOR Company.
- 1993: SADAIC homage to Atahualpa Yupanqui.
- 1993: Moon, Grand National Endowment for the Arts Award.
- 1994: Trophy for the opening of the Avenue Theater, and sculpture located in the bearing.
- 1995: Trophy Love Duo by SADAIC.[8]
- 2010: "In union and freedom" Bicentennial Medal of the May Revolution.[9]
His 1975 exhibit at the San Martín Cultural Center was a particular success, and Pujía added his entire warehouse of works to the initial display. He lived in Spain from 1975 to 1976, working in the renowned Escorial Museum.
Among his most successful later series was that of his "Homage to the Woman," which he began in 2004. Suspending his teaching activities, he devoted subsequent years to developing the project.[10]
Awards
- 2010 - Distinction "Italian Roots in Argentina" by Comites / Comitatis Degli Italiani All Estero
- 1992 - Illustrious citizen of Buenos Aires
- 1992 - Premio "Recorrido Dorado" S.D.D.R.A
- 1983 - Premio "Palmas Joaquín V. Gonzalez", Gobierno provincia de La Rioja
- 1982 - Cavalieri Ordine al merito della Repubblica italiana
- 1982 - Fundación Konex, Premio destinado a las mejores figuras de las Artes Visuales Argentinas.
- 1981 - Premio Adquisición Gobierno de Santa Fe LVIII Salón Anual de Artes Plásticas. Museo de Bellas Artes, Santa Fe
- 1980 - Premio Revista "Salimos"
- 1974 - Rotary Club de Buenos Aires, Ateneo Rotario, Laurel de Plata
- 1973 - First Prize 50 Aniversario Salón Anual de Santa Fe
- 1972 - First Prize del Salón Nacional de Tucumán
- 1972 - Premio Especial Medalla de Oro Salón IPCLAR, Provincia de Santa Fe.
- 1971 - Premio a la Mejor Muestra del Fondo Nacional de las Artes
- 1970 - Dirección de Turismo Award, Salón anual de Tucumán
- 1966 - Grand Prize in the Primera Bienal de Escultura de la Municipalidad de Quilmes
- 1966 - First Prize Salón de Artes Plásticas de Campana, Provincia de Buenos Aires
- 1964 - Fondo Nacional de las Artes Dr. Augusto Palanza Award
- 1960 - Grand Prize of Honor del Salón Nacional
- 1959 - Grand Prize at the Salón Municipal Manuel Belgrano
References
- ^ "Biografía Antonio Pujía". antoniopujia.com (in Spanish). 2004. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
- ^ "Lino Pujía". cinenacional.com (in Spanish). 2001. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
- ^ "Arte del Mundo - Portal Creativo: Sandro Pujía" [World Art - Creative Portal: Sandro Pujía]. artedelmundo.com.ar (in Spanish). 2012. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
- ^ Galli, Aldo (September 10, 2000). "Pujía: Amores y Dolores" [Pujía: Loves and Pains]. lanación.com.ar (in Spanish). Buenos Aires, Argentina: La Nación. p. 2. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
- ^ Berti, Vico (1987). "Antonio Pujía, Escultor: Un Calabrés Universal" [Antonio Pujía, Sculptor: A Universal Calabres]. Arte. Oggi Calabria (in Spanish) (No. 3): 38–39.
{{cite journal}}:|issue=has extra text (help) - ^ Benarós, León (1974). "Lirismo expresionista de un escultor argentino" [Expressionist lyricism of an Argentine sculptor] (PDF) (in Spanish). Revista Norte. pp. 43–44. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
- ^ "Medal". Wikipedia. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
- ^ "Pujía, Antonio" (in Spanish). Codigo Ciudadano. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
- ^ "El Rector de la UBA fue distinguido con la "Medalla del Bicentenario" por el Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires" [The Rector of the UBA was awarded the "Bicentennial Medal" by the Government of the City of Buenos Aires] (in Spanish). UBA University of Buenos Aires. July 30, 2010. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
- ^ Antonio Pujía: biography