The Duque Arango Gallery opens its doors to one of the most anticipated exhibitions of the year: the David Manzur Exhibition which will be on display until October 10 in El Poblado, Medellín (Carrera 37 #10a 34).
On September 4, 2009, Master David Manzur an indisputable reference in contemporary painting, personally inaugurated this exhibition, turning the beginning of the exhibition into an unforgettable event.
The Legend of St. George: a reinvented myth
Since the early 1980s, the myth of St. George has accompanied the artist’s career. However, in this new series presented at the Duque Arango Galleryt he narrative is transformed. The Roman soldier, traditionally victorious, is no longer a triumphant hero but a man suspended in time, armed not to conquer but to resist.
David Manzur’s works, made in pastel on paper, represent a dragon that abandons its condition of fantastic creature to become a metaphor of violence, chaos and fear. This reinterpretation proposes a silent confrontation, where the epic gives way to an intimate and universal struggle.
The visual language of a master
Manzur’s compositions oscillate between the icon and the theatrical scene. His style, which refers to baroque dramatism and Byzantine solemnity, is impregnated with a silence that catches the eye and forces the viewer to pause.
At 95 years of age, Manzur retains the discipline and rigor that led him to train at institutions such as the Art Students League and the Pratt Institute in New York. His legacy has led him to represent Colombia in important biennials such as São Paulo and Venice, and his works are part of collections in the Americas, Europe and Asia.
A dialogue between the master and the gallery
The relationship between David Manzur and the Duque Arango Gallery has been constant over the years. This exhibition reinforces that bond, connecting the legacy of one of Colombia’s great artists with new generations of viewers.
On this occasion, The Legend of St. George does not offer definitive answers, but invites contemplation and reflection: what does it mean to fight in a world where even heroes are vulnerable?
A not-to-be-missed event in Medellín
The David Manzur Exhibition will be open to the public until October 10 at the Duque Arango Gallery, offering visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the symbolic universe of one of the country’s most important artists.
At the same time, the city received another gesture from the master: the installation of a monumental sculpture of a horse, donated to the University of Antioquia for its open-air museum. A piece destined to dialogue with time and with those who find themselves in front of it.
For those who are looking for works by David Manzur, this exhibition represents a unique opportunity to approach the most recent creation of an artist who, with more than seven decades of career, continues to defy time and reinvent the pictorial tradition.