| Carlos Aitor Castillo | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1913-06-08)June 8, 1913 Lima, Peru |
| Died | 14 May 2000(2000-05-14) (aged 86) Lima, Peru |
| Nationality | Peruvian |
| Education | Instituto Superior de Arte de la Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, University of Buenos Aires |
| Years active | 20th century |
| Known for | Painting |
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Carlos Aitor Castillo (1913-2000) was a prominent Peruvian artist and art critic known for his significant contributions to 20th-century Latin American art.
Biography
Born as the youngest of eight children of the renowned Peruvian painter Teófilo Castillo Guas and the Spanish lady María Gregoria Gaubeka, originally from the Basque Country. His middle name, Aitor, reflects this heritage, being a traditional Basque name.
In 1920, at the age of seven, Castillo moved with his family to Argentina, settling in Tucumán, where he completed his schooling. The untimely death of his father two years later marked his childhood with hardship and a determination to succeed. Initially, Castillo took up photography, a trade passed down from his father and practiced by his older brother, while dedicating his free time to painting.
In 1940, committed to pursuing his passion for art, he relocated to Buenos Aires to study drawing and painting at the Sociedad Argentina de Artistas Plásticos and Art History at the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters of the University of Buenos Aires. He supported himself through various jobs during this period.
Returning to Tucumán in 1948, Castillo enrolled at the Instituto Superior de Arte of the National University of Tucumán, under the mentorship of the distinguished painter Lino Enea Spilimbergo. There, he expanded his artistic horizons and began teaching, serving as director of the province's Escuela Infantil de Artes Plásticas.
In 1951, Castillo returned to Peru to continue his career. His first exhibition in Lima was held at the Asociación Nacional de Escritores y Artistas (ANEA) in May 1951. He was appointed as a professor at the Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes de Lima in 1954, a position he held until his retirement in 1984, serving as its director from 1980 to 1983. Additionally, Castillo wrote art critiques for major publications such as El Comercio, La Prensa, La Crónica, and the magazine Caretas. He also experimented with stage design and directing for the Nuevo Teatro de Ofelia Woloshin group.
Castillo's works were exhibited in major cities, including New York, Washington D.C., Paris, and Tel Aviv, and he participated in the VI and VII São Paulo Biennials and collective exhibitions in Mexico, Colombia, and other countries.
Artistic Vision
Carlos Aitor Castillo believed that an artist should reconcile the universal with the national to create transcendent works. His art evolved through various movements, embracing local traditions even while engaging with modernist styles. Initially figurative, focusing on the people and landscapes of northern Argentina, he later transitioned to abstract art before returning to expressive landscapes and figures. His series Guerreros Indígenas (1964-1968) stands as a testament to his commitment to Peruvian themes.
Awards and recognitions
- First prizes in the Salons of Tucumán and Santiago (Argentina)
- First Prize and Gold Medal (City Council Gallery 1954)
- Honorary member of the Miguel Lillo Foundation of Tucumán, Argentina (1991)
- Gold medal as Emeritus Professor of the Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes de Lima (1992)
- Gold Medal from the Lions Club of Lima
Critical Appreciation
“Strong and assured strokes, structured forms with solidity, clean, intense, and contrasting colors, and meticulously balanced compositions characterize the vigorous and expressive painting of Carlos Aitor Castillo. In recent times, his purely artistic abstract forms have shifted toward expressive figurativism within an indigenous theme. His Incan warriors attest to this. Moreover, his mastery of color and spontaneous ability to convey drama and tragedy, even within an apparent festivity, reflect a profound aesthetic and human sensitivity.” - Juan Villacorta Paredes, 1972.
Carlos Aitor Castillo passed away in Lima on May 14, 2000, leaving a rich legacy that continues to inspire artists and art historians alike.
References
- "El puente - Carlos Aitor Castillo". Google Arts & Culture. Retrieved 2024-11-05.
- ^ Sanjurjo, Annick (1997). Contemporary Latin American Artists: Exhibitions at the Organization of American States 1941-1964. Scarecrow Press. p. 448. ISBN 978-0-8108-3281-7.