The contest was a high point in the lives of the eight winners. Selected from 340 participants, they not only received cash prizes, but also participated in painting and sculpture workshops to improve their technical skills to further their artistic development.
Renowned Bolivian artists Keiko Gonzalez and Guiomar offered workshops over more than 20 days. They helped the winners to understand the importance of techniques and concepts in both painting and sculpture.
The master artists’ suggestions on contrast, composition, elimination of some elements and other pointers helped the young artists create more vibrant, visually attractive paintings. “The fact that they awarded us not only economically but also with the teachings of talented, generous artists like Guiomar and Keiko differentiates Arte Joven from other contests. They also want us to excel,” said painter Victoria Mamani, a contest winner.
Mamani received the prize for her painting “Páginas de la Historia de El Alto” [Pages in the history of El Alto]. The other winners in the painting category were Bertha Benitez, Miriam Espinoza and Salvador Pomar.
“Art is more than just a decorative object; it has to do with ways of perceiving and reformulating reality. Besides talent, these young people have the artistic sensibility to understand that. We immediately made a human connection; we worked together well,” said artist Guiomar Mesa.
