Leopoldo Flores

Leopoldo Flores (1934 – April 3, 2016) was a Mexican artist mostly known for his murals and other monumental works which are concentrated in the city of Toluca, State of Mexico. He was born into a poor family in rural State of Mexico, but his artistic ability was evident early and he was able to attend the Escuela Nacional de Pintura, Escultura y Grabado "La Esmeralda" and receive a scholarship to study in Paris. His best known works are the Cosmovitral a large work in stained glass and the Aratmósfera, a “land art” piece both located in Toluca. The first is used as a symbol for the State of Mexico and the latter dominates the main stadium and the hill behind it at the main campus of the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México (UAEM). He received a number of recognitions of his work from the State of Mexico and an honorary doctorate from the UAEM, which also founded the Museo Universitario Leopoldo Flores to house and promote his work. Despite advanced Parkinson's disease, until his death Flores was still an active artist.

Life Leopoldo Flores, full name Leopoldo Flores Valdés, was born to a poor family in 1934 in the small town of San Simonito de los Comales in the municipality of Tenancingo, State of Mexico, Mexico.

His talent for art was evident in his youth, In 1962, he received a scholarship to attend the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris. This experience exposed him to more artistic influences and allowed him to participate in collective exhibitions in Europe.

He was married to Dolores Almada.

Flores was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2000, which he documented in a self-portrait named Hombre con temblor en la mano izquierda (Man with shaking in the left hand). Despite its advanced stage and concerns about his health, he continued to work.

Career

Since 1960, Flores exhibited his work both in Mexico and abroad. From 1962 to 1968, most of these exhibits were collective, including at the Palacio de Bellas Artes during the Festival Solar of the Mexico City Olympics in 1968.

One of Flores first major successes was in 1969 with the creation of “pancarta” murals, which consisted of the placement of large pieces of fabric over the exterior of buildings. Examples of works of this type include Retorno de la gran manada and Desembardo de los marines, which were places at Plaza Beau-bourg of the Centre Georges Pompidou and the vestibule of the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City . In 2004 he created the La Cátedra de la Justicia at the Escuela de Judicial del Estado de México in only two months. From 2009 to 2010 he created a mural for the State of Mexico placed at the Palacio del Gobierno in Toluca, about the Bicentennial of Mexico's Independence and Centennial of the Mexican Revolution. The glass work used about 75 tons of metal substructure, 45 tons of blown glass and 25 tons of lead solder.

In addition to mural work, other monumental pieces include a sculpture called Tocando el Sol (Touching the Sun) found at the main administration building of the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México. In 1992, he experimented with painting over snow on the sides of the Nevado de Toluca volcano. He was also a member of the Salón de la Plástica Mexicana.

Artistry Although best known for murals and other monumental works, Flores also worked with various media, techniques and sizes. More unusual media and materials have included cloth, rock, plaster, glass, wood, snow, vegetation, paper and cardboard.

His work has been featured in writings by notable Mexican art critics including Raquel Tibol, Antonio Rodriguez and Berta Taracena . Social problems his work has tackled include violence and consumption. Notable works of this type include Cien Hecatombes (1972), A la opinion pública (1973), El Hielo de Ariadna (1983) and a series of Christ figures (1994) . One of his influences include the writings of José Saramago, who he had the chance to meet.

Museo Universitario Leopoldo Flores In the early 2000s the artist donated a collection of his works to the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, which opened the Museo Universitario Leopoldo Flores in 2002, which the purpose of promoting, investigating and recording the artist's work. Among these works are El hijo de Ariadna and Los cristos.

It has six halls for temporary exhibitions, a library, photographic collection, bookstore, cafeteria and first aid station. He had a workshop in the museum similar to the one in his home. In addition to the permanent collection, the museum also holds temporary exhibits by contemporary artists along with guided tours, concerts, conferences, book presentations and workshops.