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Danilo De los Santos
«Farewell to a big,» editorialized the newspaper La is a challenge the painter could not escape, therefore hi
Informacón (August 30, 1996), stating in the paragraph: enters on an intense working period. Six years of paint-
«With the death of the master of Dominican painting, Mario ing give a new depth to his work, reflecting on his canvas
Grullón, Santiago has lost one of its most devoted creators of Vi- the affection for this country. In an individual exhibition
sual Arts. His life was an example of dedication to a vocation held at the Art Nouveau Center (September 22, 1983),
manifested in the brushwork to capture the landscape, the reali- the themes are focus on locations: «Children on donkeys»
ties and traditions of Santiago and the Cibao (…). Permanent (Constanza), «Little house on the Beach» (Samaná), «Car-
member of the so-called School of Santiago, highly regarded pu- riage» (San Pedro de Macorís), «Shacks» (Juan Dolio),
pil of maestro Yoryi Morel, distinguished professor of the School «Modern Market» (Santo Domingo)…
of Fine Arts, founder of an Academy of Painting, Don Mario
had a lifelong attached to humanist values. His work, full of His identification with the islands, allows the paint-
impressionist and costumbrista ink, will live in transcendence er from Valencia, to be considered Dominican at the In-
saved to his race.» ternational Collective in New York Customs Museum,
where he shows 36 canvas. A newspaper from that city
«Peasant Landscape,» acrylic/canvas, 60x50 cm., 1988 considers him «the sole expositor (…) representing with an
v «Car,» acrylic/canvas, 91x76 cm., 1986 v «Countryside obvious and owned style his country». Another newspaper
Landscape,» acrylic/canvas, 75x91 cm., 1985 v «Landscape,» reviews «The merengue’s delightfulness came to us from Santo
acrylic/canvas, 75x91 cm., 1985 v «Untitled,» acrylic/can- Domingo, in Masiá brushes», adding that the Museum manage-
vas, 75x60 cm., 1985 v «Santo Domingo Cathedral,» acrylic/ ment «had to insulate his paintings». Nevertheless, the light,
canvas, 91x75 cm., 1989 v «Untitled,» acrylic/canvas, 91x76 the grace and the Caribbean colourfulness powerfully
cm., 1987 v «Market,» oil/canvas, 100x83 cm., 1984 v «Little attracted the critic and the audience that unanimously
Black Woman from la Linea,» oil/canvas, 75x60 cm., 1984 v gave the highest score to this artist. By this, New York
«Car of Santiago,» acrylic/canvas, 73x58 cm., 1988 v «Land- doors were opened to him. «well deserved, specially, if one
scape,» acrylic/canvas, 90x75 cm., 1984. consider the huge quality of the exhibited works, signed by pres-
tigious well-known artists who were shrouded by the Dominican
AGUSTIN MASIÁ: brushes’ irresistible assertiveness.»
THE APPROPRIATION OF A COUNTRY HE
MADE OF HIS OWN Esteemed by his landscapes, Masiá is the author of
a seascape series painted before his death in Santo Do-
As a globetrotter, he arrives in Santo Domingo in mingo, on the Christmas day, 1994, leaving behind as a
1975. Agustin Masiá, born in Valencia, Spain in 1931, patrimony a discourse of diverse subjects.
studied at his native city Beaux Arts School. After incur-
sions on diverse modernist styles he was not satisfied «Untitled,» oil/canvas 60x91 cm., 1987 v «Untitled,» oil/
with, he opts for the traditional school regarding land-
scapes. Since 1946 he starts showing individually, follow- canvas, 75x100 cm., 1981 v «Peasant,» oil/canvas, 40x29 cm., no
ing a route from Valencia through out Madrid, Palma de
Mallorca, San Sebastian to Santo Domingo, apart from date v «Seascape,» oil/canvas, 60x45 cm., no date v «Untitled,»
Miami and New York.
acrylic/canvas, 90x121 cm., 1989 v «Seascape,» oil/canvas,
According to his biography, Agustin Masiá takes
roots in Dominican Republic «captivated» by its people 60x90 cm., no date v «Seascape and Fisher,» oil/canvas, 60x91
and the paradisiac landscape (…) The tropical luminosity
cm., no date v «Bueyes mellando terreno,» oil/cancas, 75x100
cm., 1992 v «Untitled,» oil/canvas, 60x101 cm., no date v «Lev-
elling the Ground,» oil/canvas, 100x125 cm., no date v «Un-
titled,» mix/canvas, 50x93 cm., no date v «Untitled,» acrylic/
canvas, 65x85 cm., no date v «Untitled,» mix/canvas, 60x90 cm.,
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