MARÍA JOSÉ and ME

MARÍA JOSÉ and ME

Although I’ve been in Spain just about three months now, I’m just not getting accustomed to the Andalucían’s accented-´speedy-gonzalez´ style of speech, so imagine how uncomfortable it would be to spend a day  with a person who did not speak  your language or vice versa. Well, this was my reality about two weekends ago when I had the pleasure of spending my Saturday morning at the museum with María José, daughter of the artist Amalio and President of ´Fundacion Pintor Amalio.´  The office manager Juan Diego was out of the city attending a wedding  and María Jose´s husband  Manuel (Museum Director) was out running errands. Fortunately for me, that day, María and I were the perfect duo.

You see, I consider María José my future self, in that, I see myself being at the helm of my father’s Legacy back at home in Trinidad and Tobago. It’s almost like life imitating life, and one of the reasons I felt so connected to this internship placement. Although we don’t know each other, I know she can identify with being the daughter of a prolific artist, and some of the weight it may carry. Although she grew up in a different era, we share a bond having artists as parents. It’s amazing to me how even though there was a language barrier, we managed to understand each other perfectly; perhaps it was the filial connection of two women, similar to that of a mother and daughter. 

 

Like her farther, María José is also an artist, and is currently an Art Professor in the Fine Arts Faculty of Seville. María José sees the world in hues of blue. I consider her style ethereal, she has somehow been able to capture what we see in such a delicate manner, taking her audience to higher regions beyond the earth almost heaven like or a blue utopia. Her work is best described in this excerpt taken from www.fundacionamalio.com ¨In her search for new artistic concepts, María José´s exhibition entitled Ämbito 4¨ stands out a great deal, where the artist allows the observer to infuse himself into the works, where he finds himself surrounded by painted walls with conceptual streets, imaginary landscapes and dreamed cities.¨ María José has been able to whole heartedly involve the visitor using harmonious blues  that makes persons surf along those certain or imaginary worlds of the artist herself.

María José is a genuine reflection of her art work, most delicate and feminine. From our very first meeting, she greeted me with open arms, the European styled double kiss and a huge smile, what a welcome! Even though we can’t understand each other one hundred percent, she is endearing and easily one of my favorite people in Sevilla.