Hermann Guggiari
Encyclopedia
Hermann Guggiari is an engineer
and sculptor
born in Asunción
, Paraguay
, on March 20, 1924, the son of Pedro Bruno Guggiari, who served as mayor of Asuncion, and of Ana Brun.
, in the Escuela Superior de Bellas Arte “ Ernesto de la Carcova”, an institution in which, in contact with Libero Baadi, Alicia Peñalba, Lucio Fontana
and Curatella Manes, he learned to value the advanced art of the time.
His liberal and democratic ideas gained him the exile after the bloody civil war of 1947 to 1954 - and the cultural marginal as well as the imprisonment in several occasions during the dictatorship of Alfredo Stroessner
. Due to the lack of a National Plastic Art Place in Paraguay, he annually from 1970 to 1995 fairs and expositions in Christmas time, in the “Bosque de los artistas”, in his own property. The fair of “EL BOSQUE” was with the time, an obligatory gathering of the artistic production, reaching a number of 250 participants in the last ones.
) and symbolizes the United Nations in a form near the building of the NNUU,with perforations as wounds in two fronts-United Nations as a name, because the violence of the world continues-and as a sign of hope in each hole of the violence, a nest of real pigeons as a murmur of peace (199).
Another inspiring theme is the vital, between to be and stop being. In this line we can mention ”Parto”, with a message of transcendence despite the pain;”Inmanencia” and “Del polvo eres y polvo seras”.
As a homage to the dreams which didn’t come true, what couldn't be, he carved “Ara rupi a” about which Livio Abramo
said once at the presentation:” Because of the capacity of adapting is deep artistic sensibility to the spirit of this time, Hermann B. Guggiari has a special place in the plastic art of Paraguay and the continent. His art is complex, absorbing all technical possibilities of our culture and civilization and he fuses them as his instrument in order to express the fundamental values of men.”
“Brote”, an homage to his father, mayor of the city of Asuncion who planted trees and created the green spaces of the city, it's a sculpture inscribed within his optimistic themes; ”Historia”, presented at the Expo 92
in Sevilla, was selected by the organizers of the world event to be exposed at the entrance of the “Pabellon de las Americas”. His moral theme appeared in his “Cristo“, whose original is at the entrance of the church La Crucecita, in the Sajonia neighborhood, in Asuncion. A copy of this work was presented at the X Bienal of São Paulo (1971) and obtained the Golden Medal; regarding this successful participation the critic Arnold Kohler, from Switzerland
, said in the newspaper Tribune de Geneve
: ” There are two artist in the Bienal of Sao Paulo, both sculptors, who having followed different steps, one figurative and the other abstract, have reached a high perfection and spirituality. The first one, Hermann Guggiari, Paraguayan-created a form of an angel emergin from the wall, a dramatic and sublime work.“
He is also the author of other “Cristos“, associated to the ecological area, such as the one in the temple of Maria Auxiliadora, of Asuncion, and the “Cristo clavado por los troncos quemados”, of the few remaining woods in Paraguay. Within this subject, he made in the streets, in the second Bienal of Medellin
(Colombia
), the “Cross” of Medellin, as an homage to the Colombian Christian martyrs. Another “Cruz ametrallada” made as an homage to the Christian country men of the agro leagues, murdered during the dictatorship of Stroessner. “Proceso” deserves special mention atemporal multispacial, with an integration of films, photos, sound, made with machine guns and used several times as “Cruz”.
On sustained development he presented in the university city of Fort Hays
, Kansas
, USA, a sculpture symbolizing the development of this state as the world granary. (1980)
“Gaviota” (1982) is a sculpture presented in Punta del Este
(Uruguay
) in a mixed exposition of sculptors of Latin America, in the Playa Brava; it's a protest against the death of the coast birds due to the black ties produced by the petrol pollution.
He also made a monument to “Periodista martir Santiago Leguizamon“ (1991), located on the street with the name of the press man, victim of murder bullets. In 1994 he made a “Homenaje a Miro” in an international congress in Panama
.
Other sculptures of his are monument to “A los heroes del CHACO” in the harbour of Asuncion, the image of “Maria Auxiliadora”, of 8,5 meters, made in stainless stela, and the monument of “Exalumnos del Colegio San Jose muertos en la Guerra del Chaco”, made in quebracho wood.
He was a member of various international juries, co-founder of Centro de Arte Moderno de Asuncion, founder and first president of the Centro de Escultores del Paraguay, founder of the Movimiento Ecologico Paraguayo (1990)
In 1995 he was condecorated by the paraguayan government with “the national merit order “, as a Commendatore.
Married to Deidamia Banks, he is the father of eight children, four of them keep the family spark of love to beauty in the center “Guggiari Arte”.
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
and sculptor
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
born in Asunción
Asunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...
, Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
, on March 20, 1924, the son of Pedro Bruno Guggiari, who served as mayor of Asuncion, and of Ana Brun.
Childhood and youth
He did his elementary and high school in the San Jose School, in Asuncion and his engineering studies as well as his sculpture studies in Buenos AiresBuenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, in the Escuela Superior de Bellas Arte “ Ernesto de la Carcova”, an institution in which, in contact with Libero Baadi, Alicia Peñalba, Lucio Fontana
Lucio Fontana
Lucio Fontana was an Italian painter, sculptor and theorist of Argentine birth. He was mostly known as the founder of Spatialism and his ties to Arte Povera.-Early life:...
and Curatella Manes, he learned to value the advanced art of the time.
His liberal and democratic ideas gained him the exile after the bloody civil war of 1947 to 1954 - and the cultural marginal as well as the imprisonment in several occasions during the dictatorship of Alfredo Stroessner
Alfredo Stroessner
Alfredo Stroessner Matiauda, whose name is also spelled Strössner or Strößner , was a Paraguayan military officer and dictator from 1954 to 1989...
. Due to the lack of a National Plastic Art Place in Paraguay, he annually from 1970 to 1995 fairs and expositions in Christmas time, in the “Bosque de los artistas”, in his own property. The fair of “EL BOSQUE” was with the time, an obligatory gathering of the artistic production, reaching a number of 250 participants in the last ones.
History and works
His sculpture is large and with many prizes. We can mention among them the ones with freedom as the central theme: ”Hungria o Libertad“, which received a special mention in the V Bienal of San Paulo (1959); ”Kennedy”, which obtained the first prize in sculpture in the Salon Esso of Young Artist of Latin America, organized by the OEA (1965): ”Rejas”, inspired in the prisons of the Stronist dictatorship; ”NNUU”, a seven meters structure, which is located at the entrance of the Dachau concentration camp (GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
) and symbolizes the United Nations in a form near the building of the NNUU,with perforations as wounds in two fronts-United Nations as a name, because the violence of the world continues-and as a sign of hope in each hole of the violence, a nest of real pigeons as a murmur of peace (199).
Another inspiring theme is the vital, between to be and stop being. In this line we can mention ”Parto”, with a message of transcendence despite the pain;”Inmanencia” and “Del polvo eres y polvo seras”.
As a homage to the dreams which didn’t come true, what couldn't be, he carved “Ara rupi a” about which Livio Abramo
Livio Abramo
Livio Abramo was a Paraguayan sketcher, engraver, and aquarellist.Abramo was born on June 23, 1903, in Araraquara, Brazil, to Italian parents. He described his father as a liberal and his paternal grandfather as an anarchist...
said once at the presentation:” Because of the capacity of adapting is deep artistic sensibility to the spirit of this time, Hermann B. Guggiari has a special place in the plastic art of Paraguay and the continent. His art is complex, absorbing all technical possibilities of our culture and civilization and he fuses them as his instrument in order to express the fundamental values of men.”
“Brote”, an homage to his father, mayor of the city of Asuncion who planted trees and created the green spaces of the city, it's a sculpture inscribed within his optimistic themes; ”Historia”, presented at the Expo 92
Seville Expo '92
The Universal Exposition of Seville took place from Monday, April 20 to Monday, October 12, 1992 on La Isla de La Cartuja , Seville, Spain. The theme for the Expo was "The Age of Discovery" and over 100 countries were represented...
in Sevilla, was selected by the organizers of the world event to be exposed at the entrance of the “Pabellon de las Americas”. His moral theme appeared in his “Cristo“, whose original is at the entrance of the church La Crucecita, in the Sajonia neighborhood, in Asuncion. A copy of this work was presented at the X Bienal of São Paulo (1971) and obtained the Golden Medal; regarding this successful participation the critic Arnold Kohler, from Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, said in the newspaper Tribune de Geneve
Tribune de Genève
Tribune de Genève is the most prominent regional newspaper of the Canton of Geneva, Switzerland.Tribune de Genève was founded on 1 February 1879 by James T. Bates. The French language daily is published by Edipresse in Geneva...
: ” There are two artist in the Bienal of Sao Paulo, both sculptors, who having followed different steps, one figurative and the other abstract, have reached a high perfection and spirituality. The first one, Hermann Guggiari, Paraguayan-created a form of an angel emergin from the wall, a dramatic and sublime work.“
He is also the author of other “Cristos“, associated to the ecological area, such as the one in the temple of Maria Auxiliadora, of Asuncion, and the “Cristo clavado por los troncos quemados”, of the few remaining woods in Paraguay. Within this subject, he made in the streets, in the second Bienal of Medellin
Medellín
Medellín , officially the Municipio de Medellín or Municipality of Medellín, is the second largest city in Colombia. It is in the Aburrá Valley, one of the more northerly of the Andes in South America. It has a population of 2.3 million...
(Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
), the “Cross” of Medellin, as an homage to the Colombian Christian martyrs. Another “Cruz ametrallada” made as an homage to the Christian country men of the agro leagues, murdered during the dictatorship of Stroessner. “Proceso” deserves special mention atemporal multispacial, with an integration of films, photos, sound, made with machine guns and used several times as “Cruz”.
On sustained development he presented in the university city of Fort Hays
Fort Hays
Fort Hays was an important frontier outpost of the United States Army located in Hays, Kansas between 1865 and 1889. Fort Hays was the home of several well-known Indian wars regiments including the Seventh U.S. Cavalry, the Fifth U.S. Infantry, and the Tenth U.S. Cavalry, whose black troopers were...
, Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, USA, a sculpture symbolizing the development of this state as the world granary. (1980)
“Gaviota” (1982) is a sculpture presented in Punta del Este
Punta del Este
Punta del Este is a resort town on the Atlantic Coast in the Maldonado Department of southeastern Uruguay. It is located on the intersection of Route 10 with Route 39, directly southeast of the department capital Maldonado and about east of Montevideo...
(Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
) in a mixed exposition of sculptors of Latin America, in the Playa Brava; it's a protest against the death of the coast birds due to the black ties produced by the petrol pollution.
He also made a monument to “Periodista martir Santiago Leguizamon“ (1991), located on the street with the name of the press man, victim of murder bullets. In 1994 he made a “Homenaje a Miro” in an international congress in Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
.
Other sculptures of his are monument to “A los heroes del CHACO” in the harbour of Asuncion, the image of “Maria Auxiliadora”, of 8,5 meters, made in stainless stela, and the monument of “Exalumnos del Colegio San Jose muertos en la Guerra del Chaco”, made in quebracho wood.
He was a member of various international juries, co-founder of Centro de Arte Moderno de Asuncion, founder and first president of the Centro de Escultores del Paraguay, founder of the Movimiento Ecologico Paraguayo (1990)
In 1995 he was condecorated by the paraguayan government with “the national merit order “, as a Commendatore.
Married to Deidamia Banks, he is the father of eight children, four of them keep the family spark of love to beauty in the center “Guggiari Arte”.