Manuel Chong Neto
Bio
Manuel Chong Neto
was a Panamanian artist. He was born on November 16, 1927, in Panama City. Neto showed an interest in drawing and painting from a very young age. When he was 19, Neto became an art teacher at the Liceo de Panamá for girls and continued teaching art for more than twenty-five years. He considered teaching to be “one of his greatest professional satisfactions.”
Neto entered the National School of Arts in Panama, and in 1965 he left Panama to attend the National School of Arts in Mexico and the Academy of San Carlos in Mexico City. During his time in Mexico, Neto became interested in graphic arts and later became one of the most important graphic artists.
While in Mexico, Neto met his wife, Alma, and was introduced to a painting style he called “Chongnetian women.” These women were beautiful and voluptuous, representing his idea of Latin American sensuality. Neto’s “gorditas” became the most recognizable subjects of his work. Some were meant to be sophisticated, while others were intended to express female sexuality.
Besides his "gorditas", Neto was also known for his still lifes and urban landscapes. Don Manuel died of a stroke on May 23, 2010.
Statement
Manuel Chong neto recognized, as one of the most representative painters of the country, Manuel Chong Neto drew upon modern and contemporary forms to create multiple planes.
He used enlarged eyes, eliminated necks, and distorted shapes as a fundamentally symbolic act. He depicted characters from different eras within the same setting.
2.5 x 4m / 98.4 x 157 in
