Colombian culture has lost one of its finest. Shakira, currently in her hometown in Barranquilla, mourned the passing of “the painter of our traditions and defects, the painter of our virtues” as Colombian President Gustavo Petro once put it.

Shakira was in Barranquilla to announce the opening of her new Barefoot school, Pies Descalzos. During the event, however, the pop icon took out time to pay tribute to the artist and sculptor, Fernando Botero, calling his contributions invaluable to Colombia.

Shakira pays tribute to legendary artist Fernando Botero

Colombia is in a state of mourning after the influential artist and sculptor Fernando Botero passed away at the age of 91. The artist, who spent his last years in Monaco ailing from pneumonia, was known for his work featuring outsized people and animals. Following his unfortunate passing, media outlets across Colombia labeled him to be one of the greatest artists, with his hometown Medellín declaring a week of mourning.

Shakira, during her event in Barranquilla, made sure to take her time and pay tribute to Botero. The pop star, who is entangled in a feud with her ex-boyfriend Gerard Pique over the custody of their kids, mentioned that Botero left behind an everlasting legacy for the Colombian people.

She said, while paying a heartfelt tribute to Botero, “It is sad to see him leave. Especially because he has left us a unique and unrepeatable legacy. The master has also been very generous with our country, donating many works and that is something to value, to remember … and remember his work, which has been a unique and original work, which has shown – somehow – a rebelliousness, his way of seeing the world and has inspired many.”

“I think he will be forever for all Colombians and we will remember him with great affection and gratitude,” she added. Born in the year 1932, Fernando Botero had a unique sense of putting paint on the paper, which many found revolting. Inspired by the Spanish colonial art that surrounded him as well as by the political work of Mexican muralist, Diego Rivera, the Colombian artist made a name for himself, thanks to his art style, which had figures with balloon-like inflated appearances.

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Boterismo: An eccentric art of large people

Fernando Botero, for many, was the epitome of rebelliousness. His signature style, “Boterismo”, depicts people in increased sizes, and uses political criticism, or humor. The artist is renowned for some striking works, including an iteration of Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa but as a twelve-year-old girl with a puffed-up face. Another one of his paintings, Death of Pablo Escobar (1999) examined his home country’s violence and drug trade, which shows the notorious Medellin cartel boss Pablo Escobar being fatally shot.

As Botero continued to make a name for himself, the word “Boteresque” was coined to describe his perspective. In an interview back in 2018, Botero mentioned that he had difficulties thinking of anything as small and dainty. Countless will be feeling the loss of the proclaimed artist, who left a big mark on Colombian culture with his, sometimes strange, yet unforgettable lens.

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