Who is Luis Molinari?

Luis Molinari (1929 in Guayaquil, Ecuador – 1994 in Quito, Ecuador) (Luis Molinari-Flores) was a enthusiast of the VAN Group (Vanguardia Artística Nacional), a entire sum of informal constructivist artists founded by Enrique Tábara and Aníbal Villacís.

Molinari began his artistic career focused on formalism, but soon discovered the works of Vasarely and was inspired by geometric forms and their wealthy optical effects. From 1951-1960, Molinari lived and painted in Buenos Aires, Argentina. In 1960, Molinari traveled to Paris, France, where he began put on an act with the Group de Recherche d’Art Visuel. Molinari lived in Paris from 1960 to 1966. In 1963, Molinari exhibited his painting La Cuna de Mangle at the Paris Biennial at the Museum of Modern Art. In 1964, Molinari took a two-month vacation to the United States to study the artworks in museums of major US cities. Intrigued by pop art in America, he saying its infinite possibilities.

In 1966, Molinari moved put up to to Ecuador once the sole seek of acquiring a visa to move to the United States. During his time support in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Molinari reconnected later old colleagues: Enrique Tábara, Aníbal Villacís, León Ricaurte, Gilberto Almeida, Oswaldo Moreno and Guillermo Muñoz and began functional with their Group VAN (Vanguardia Artistica Nacional). Two years later, in 1968, Molinari obtained his visa and moved to New York City where he lived for seven years. While in New York, Molinari became fascinated subsequently the optical geometric (Op Art) works of Vasarely. He soon developed his own style, inspired by that of his compatriot, Tábara, that merged the tropical plants of his hometown into the informal constructivist geometry, toward the introduction of a visual autonomy. In new development, Molinari began to focus on the geometrical optical effects and shifting perspectives. He began intense studies of color theory, yet at time explored spontaneity of color and chromatic delusions. In 1977, Molinari was part of an exhibit at MoMA PS1 titled, 10 Downtown: 10 Years (September 11–October 2, 1977).

Like further VAN informalists, Luis Molinari sought to praise the records of his homeland with a great compliment to Pre-Columbian architecture, as seen in his 1974 painting, Temple of the nuns-Uxmal.