Fernando Llort
Encyclopedia
Fernando Llort Choussy is a Salvadoran artist
of international recognition, called "El Salvador's National Artist" by the Foundation for Self-Sufficiency in Central America. He is known for teaching and inspiring the small town of La Palma, Chalatenango
, how to make a living through art. His style is colorful and many times child-like. It can be compared to that of Joan Miró
and in some instances Pablo Picasso
.
degree from the University of El Salvador
.
A thirst for new experiences led him to further his studies in France
in 1968. This was a very important time in Llort's life because being abroad gave him a strong sense of cultural identity with El Salvador.
After France, he studied theology
in Lovaina, Belgium
. Religious symbols are present throughout his art. One can almost always see a church, a dove or an eye that sees everything. This is part of his cultural identity. Later on he went to study art in the United States
at the Louisiana State University
at Baton Rouge.
Upon returning to El Salvador
he found a lot of political and social instability. The climate was tense as it was the early awakening of a civil war that lasted twelve years. To get away from all the these problems, he moved to the town of La Palma in the northern region of El Salvador
, close to the border with Honduras
. The contact with nature and with the people of La Palma influenced his art in a tremendous way. Life up on the mountains was simple compared to what was happening throughout the rest of the country. One writer describes the style and motifs of the art in this way: "Llort's designs were simple: primary colors mostly, and a kind of two dimensional art. Images of the rural life of the campesino predominated. Animals, birds, flowers, simple adobe houses, with red tile roofs." The same author notes that the themes shifted somewhat over the years that followed: "As the war progressed, and the consciousness of the poor deepened, themes such as the value of women, the importance of community, and the Salvadoran face of God became common."
He started an art workshop called "La Semilla de Dios" (God's seed) giving the opportunity to the people to learn about art. It was the birth of an artistic city. Once the civil war started, he left La Palma and moved back to San Salvador but even up to this day he maintains his link with the mountain people. B
In San Salvador, he married Estela Chacon and had three children. He founded a cultural house called "El Arbol de Dios" (God's Tree) where he displays and sells his art. His work also can be seen decorating the exterior walls of that city's Metropolitan Cathedral and in the Hotel Real Inter-Continental. He also founded El Movimiento de Pintores de La Palma. And he helped the campesinos to have another job than field work.
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
of international recognition, called "El Salvador's National Artist" by the Foundation for Self-Sufficiency in Central America. He is known for teaching and inspiring the small town of La Palma, Chalatenango
Chalatenango
Chalatenango can refer to:* the Chalatenango Department in El Salvador* the city Chalatenango in El Salvador...
, how to make a living through art. His style is colorful and many times child-like. It can be compared to that of Joan Miró
Joan Miró
Joan Miró i Ferrà was a Spanish Catalan painter, sculptor, and ceramicist born in Barcelona.Earning international acclaim, his work has been interpreted as Surrealism, a sandbox for the subconscious mind, a re-creation of the childlike, and a manifestation of Catalan pride...
and in some instances Pablo Picasso
Pablo Picasso
Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso known as Pablo Ruiz Picasso was a Spanish expatriate painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, and stage designer, one of the greatest and most influential artists of the...
.
Biography
Fernando Llort is the son of Baltasar Llort and Victoria Choussy. He is the middle child of six (four brothers and a sister) and displayed an artistic inclination since an early age. His teachers would pick him to draw maps during geography lessons. After graduating from high-school he obtained an architectureArchitecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
degree from the University of El Salvador
University of El Salvador
The University of El Salvador or Universidad de El Salvador is the oldest and one of the most prominent university institutions in El Salvador. It serves as the national university of the country...
.
A thirst for new experiences led him to further his studies in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1968. This was a very important time in Llort's life because being abroad gave him a strong sense of cultural identity with El Salvador.
After France, he studied theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
in Lovaina, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. Religious symbols are present throughout his art. One can almost always see a church, a dove or an eye that sees everything. This is part of his cultural identity. Later on he went to study art in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at the Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
at Baton Rouge.
Upon returning to El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
he found a lot of political and social instability. The climate was tense as it was the early awakening of a civil war that lasted twelve years. To get away from all the these problems, he moved to the town of La Palma in the northern region of El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
, close to the border with Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
. The contact with nature and with the people of La Palma influenced his art in a tremendous way. Life up on the mountains was simple compared to what was happening throughout the rest of the country. One writer describes the style and motifs of the art in this way: "Llort's designs were simple: primary colors mostly, and a kind of two dimensional art. Images of the rural life of the campesino predominated. Animals, birds, flowers, simple adobe houses, with red tile roofs." The same author notes that the themes shifted somewhat over the years that followed: "As the war progressed, and the consciousness of the poor deepened, themes such as the value of women, the importance of community, and the Salvadoran face of God became common."
He started an art workshop called "La Semilla de Dios" (God's seed) giving the opportunity to the people to learn about art. It was the birth of an artistic city. Once the civil war started, he left La Palma and moved back to San Salvador but even up to this day he maintains his link with the mountain people. B
In San Salvador, he married Estela Chacon and had three children. He founded a cultural house called "El Arbol de Dios" (God's Tree) where he displays and sells his art. His work also can be seen decorating the exterior walls of that city's Metropolitan Cathedral and in the Hotel Real Inter-Continental. He also founded El Movimiento de Pintores de La Palma. And he helped the campesinos to have another job than field work.