But style may develop in a rigid mode of painting, a formula, an endless repetition of the same forms and colours. This exhibition shows that Botero has this problem. Botero’s faces are always similar. If you have seen one, you have seen them all…... As a consequence of this repetition his work loses tension, vigour and interest.
I have seen the same problem with the Bolivian artist Roberto Mamani Mamani. His colourful pastel drawings are extremely popular, even internationally, and well sold, be it in the original form or in the form of post cards and calendars. Unfortunately, he repeats himself all the time, in themes, forms and colours. The creative process has become a mechanistic industry without any imagination. What a pity…..