Pedro León Zapata
Encyclopedia
Pedro León Zapata is a prominent Venezuela
n artist, humorist and cartoonist.
to learn the techniques of the great muralist Diego Rivera
and José Clemente Orozco
and studies at the Instituto Politécnico Nacional, at La Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes La Esmeralda and the workshop of Siqueiros
. After eleven years he returns to Venezuela
and becomes Professor of Drawing at the Architecture School of the Central University of Venezuela
and at the "Escuela de Artes Plásticas Cristóbal Rojas". In 1959 he began to draw caricatures for newspapers, first for the newspapers Dominguito and later, in 1965, creates a column in the newspaper El Nacional
entitled "Zapatazos" which continues until today to be one of the most important places for critical commentary of the social and political situation in Venezuela. In 1968, the first collection of his caricatures was compiled under the title Las Elecciones de Zapata. His work has a great range from illustration of books and magazines to writing plays and hosting a radio show in Caracas with Orlando Urdaneta
and later on with another well-known Venezuelan comedian Laureano Márquez
.
His paintings have been exhibited in many solo expositions, among them "Todo el museo para Zapata" at the Sofía Ímber Museum of Contemporary Art in 1975. He won the "Premio Nacional de Artes Plásticas" in 1980 and the "Premio Nacional de Periodismo" in 1967.
In 1992 he was in charge of designing the image of the Latin American Film Festivals at Biarritz
, France and Trieste
in Italy and in 1999 he finished an enormous mural of 1,500m² entitled "Conductores de Venezuela" that adorns the northern edge of the Central University of Venezuela
, next to the Francisco Fajardo Highway, and represents historical Venezuelan leaders driving all kinds of vehicles.
One of Zapata's daily cartoons in the newspaper El Nacional
became the subject of heavy criticism in Aló Presidente
, the weekly TV program of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez
, in the year 2000 because of Zapata's view on the transformation of Venezuelan civil society into a military society caused by some of the policies implemented by Chávez at the time, like appointing in government offices numerous ex-military officers and an education plan incorporating military training in all high schools of the country. Chávez demanded an explanation for the meaning of the cartoon and suggested that Zapata had been paid to draw it. Zapata responded by drawing another cartoon which asked Chávez, "Hugo Rafael, how much were you paid to promote the cartoon?" since the newspaper sales and the profile of Zapata increased because of the controversy.
In February 2005, he received an honorary PhD
from the Central University of Venezuela
. The ceremony was hosted by Laureano Márquez, Claudio Nazoa, Graterolacho, Oscar Yanes
, Cayito Aponte, Rubén Monasterios and Otrova Gomas.
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
n artist, humorist and cartoonist.
Biography
In 1945 he entered the "Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Caracas" but in 1947 he abandons the school to join the foundation of the "Taller La Barraca de Maripérez" where he will exhibit his first works. In the same year travels to MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
to learn the techniques of the great muralist Diego Rivera
Diego Rivera
Diego María de la Concepción Juan Nepomuceno Estanislao de la Rivera y Barrientos Acosta y Rodríguez was a prominent Mexican painter born in Guanajuato, Guanajuato, an active communist, and husband of Frida Kahlo . His large wall works in fresco helped establish the Mexican Mural Movement in...
and José Clemente Orozco
José Clemente Orozco
José Clemente Orozco was a Mexican social realist painter, who specialized in bold murals that established the Mexican Mural Renaissance together with murals by Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and others...
and studies at the Instituto Politécnico Nacional, at La Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes La Esmeralda and the workshop of Siqueiros
Siqueiros
Siqueiros is a Spanish surname and might refer to:People* Alejandro Siqueiros , Mexican freestyle swimmer* David Alfaro Siqueiros , Mexican painter...
. After eleven years he returns to Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
and becomes Professor of Drawing at the Architecture School of the Central University of Venezuela
Central University of Venezuela
The Central University of Venezuela is a premier public University of Venezuela located in Caracas...
and at the "Escuela de Artes Plásticas Cristóbal Rojas". In 1959 he began to draw caricatures for newspapers, first for the newspapers Dominguito and later, in 1965, creates a column in the newspaper El Nacional
El Nacional
El Nacional is a Venezuelan publishing company under the name C.A. Editorial El Nacional, most widely known for its El Nacional newspaper. It, along with Últimas Noticias and El Universal, are the most widely read and circulated daily national newspapers in the country, and it has an average of...
entitled "Zapatazos" which continues until today to be one of the most important places for critical commentary of the social and political situation in Venezuela. In 1968, the first collection of his caricatures was compiled under the title Las Elecciones de Zapata. His work has a great range from illustration of books and magazines to writing plays and hosting a radio show in Caracas with Orlando Urdaneta
Orlando Urdaneta
Orlando Urdaneta is a well-known Venezuelan actor and television personality. He is one of the most outspoken critics of President Hugo Chávez and his fear of retaliation from the Bolivarian Circles made him decide to live in a self-imposed exile in Miami...
and later on with another well-known Venezuelan comedian Laureano Márquez
Laureano Márquez
Laureano Márquez , is a leading Spanish-born Venezuelan humorist and politologist.Marquez was born on the Spanish island of Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands, in 1963 and obtained a BA in Political Science from the Central University of Venezuela...
.
His paintings have been exhibited in many solo expositions, among them "Todo el museo para Zapata" at the Sofía Ímber Museum of Contemporary Art in 1975. He won the "Premio Nacional de Artes Plásticas" in 1980 and the "Premio Nacional de Periodismo" in 1967.
In 1992 he was in charge of designing the image of the Latin American Film Festivals at Biarritz
Biarritz
Biarritz is a city which lies on the Bay of Biscay, on the Atlantic coast, in south-western France. It is a luxurious seaside town and is popular with tourists and surfers....
, France and Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
in Italy and in 1999 he finished an enormous mural of 1,500m² entitled "Conductores de Venezuela" that adorns the northern edge of the Central University of Venezuela
Central University of Venezuela
The Central University of Venezuela is a premier public University of Venezuela located in Caracas...
, next to the Francisco Fajardo Highway, and represents historical Venezuelan leaders driving all kinds of vehicles.
One of Zapata's daily cartoons in the newspaper El Nacional
El Nacional
El Nacional is a Venezuelan publishing company under the name C.A. Editorial El Nacional, most widely known for its El Nacional newspaper. It, along with Últimas Noticias and El Universal, are the most widely read and circulated daily national newspapers in the country, and it has an average of...
became the subject of heavy criticism in Aló Presidente
Aló Presidente
Aló Presidente is a largely unscripted talk show hosted by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez which is broadcast on Venezuelan state television and radio stations every Sunday at 11:00 AM...
, the weekly TV program of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez
Hugo Chávez
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías is the 56th and current President of Venezuela, having held that position since 1999. He was formerly the leader of the Fifth Republic Movement political party from its foundation in 1997 until 2007, when he became the leader of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela...
, in the year 2000 because of Zapata's view on the transformation of Venezuelan civil society into a military society caused by some of the policies implemented by Chávez at the time, like appointing in government offices numerous ex-military officers and an education plan incorporating military training in all high schools of the country. Chávez demanded an explanation for the meaning of the cartoon and suggested that Zapata had been paid to draw it. Zapata responded by drawing another cartoon which asked Chávez, "Hugo Rafael, how much were you paid to promote the cartoon?" since the newspaper sales and the profile of Zapata increased because of the controversy.
In February 2005, he received an honorary PhD
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from the Central University of Venezuela
Central University of Venezuela
The Central University of Venezuela is a premier public University of Venezuela located in Caracas...
. The ceremony was hosted by Laureano Márquez, Claudio Nazoa, Graterolacho, Oscar Yanes
Oscar Yanes
Oscar Armando Yanes González is a Venezuelan journalist and writer.Yanes is considered a pioneer in Venezuelan television journalism, particularly in the televised interview. He has become famous for his historical research revealing disconcerting events in Venezuela History, and his television...
, Cayito Aponte, Rubén Monasterios and Otrova Gomas.
Works
- "Zapata contra Pinochet" (Caracas: Ediciones Barricada 1980)
- "Caracas: Monte y Culebra" (Caracas : Pomaire 1987) ISBN 9802900214
- (with Salvador Garmendia) "Crónicas Sádicas" (Caracas : Pomaire1990) ISBN 980290046X
- "Dressed and undressed : painted drawings by Pedro León Zapata" (Washington, D.C. : Art Museum of the Americas, Organization of American States 1997) ISBN 9802721891
- "¡Zapata...Firme!: un país en blanco y negro" (Caracas: Ediciones EG 2001) ISBN 9806386248
Quotations
External links
- Interview with Zapata "My only aspiration is to be a loser" (2001).
- http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/latin_america/jan-june02/venezuela_6-18.html"Cartoon and Crisis" Interview with Zapata from the Newshour with Jim Lehrer (also video) on the controversy with Hugo ChávezHugo ChávezHugo Rafael Chávez Frías is the 56th and current President of Venezuela, having held that position since 1999. He was formerly the leader of the Fifth Republic Movement political party from its foundation in 1997 until 2007, when he became the leader of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela...
(2002)] - Interview with Zapata "This revolution does not make me laugh", from the Newspaper "Tal Cual" (2003).
- Celebration of the 40th anniversary of the column "Zapatazos" in the newspaper El Nacional.
- Interview with Zapata "Drawing is my language", from the newspaper "El Carabobeño" (2005)
- Dedicated to his life and work
- Caricatures and Essays on Zapata