JUAN FRANCISCO GUZMAN

Born in Santiago Atitlan, Sololá; the origin of his essence. In 26 years of painting, his life has let him create his own original techniques and schemes. "His art is a fusion of modern plastic and primitive indigenous arte-naif, rich in symbolism. Splashes of Surrealism spring forth uncontrollably in a mysterious blend of the real and fantasy". His work is a synthesis of Guatemala's metabolic, undulating magic and reality. The thrilling colors, the symbolism, the backgrounds, harmonize into a unified real and magical form. Reality and fantasy are the intersecting quality of Juan Francisco Guzmán's work.

Juan Francisco Guzmán is "the magic expressionist of religious celebration and the piercing scream of the pueblo"

Maria Jose Torres, Nicte-Arte, Spain.

"Poet, philosopher, educator; Guzman travels with his work through space reflecting on the nature of the spirit, while charged with a limitless emotion. Guzman has exhibited in, North America, Guatemala, and Spain. In Spain he has been known for his ability at composition and in particular control of backgrounds, a stylistic characteristic symbol."

Nicte-Arte España.

He continues his search for native elements and undulations, such as ancient, and pre-Columbian beginnings, and in his work manifests the modern and frames his art in the social and cultural life of Guatemala and the world.

"This artist decided to make his profoundest dreams the "subject" of his art, that done all that is left is the work and obligation of being faithful to the content of his dreams. It is exactly that faith that explains, on the one hand, the thematic diversity of his art and, on the other, the emotional conviction that animates all of his paintings. Guzman's art is a push and spin of true sense of art, in an activity that around the lake, has become a routine."

Juan B. Juarez, Art critique

"Guzman has a deep appreciation of the Mayan culture and his artwork captures that essence magnificently. The artist explains that his art is an evolutionary consequence of his personal search of meaning by inspecting man's nature since pre-Columbian times until today. It relates the mythology of a Mayan Tradition and the modern impact of the social life of the Guatemalan people. His most recent works are concentrated on the connection of Mayan femininity to the concepts of Mother Nature and creation. His work is drawn in his dreams and his imagination; it combines reality with fantasy in natural of imagination and symbolism."

Richard Morgan S. Director of the Cultural Center Los Encuentros, Panajachel.

EXPOSICIONS:

• 1984 - Lloyd’s Bank International, Guatemala.
• 1988 - Escuela de Marmion Chicago, Aurora, Illinois, Estados Unidos.
• 1994 - Instituto Guatemalteco de Cultura Hispánica, auspiciado por Cooperación Española, Embajada Española, Universidad de San Carlos e INGUAT.
• 1995 - Centro Cultural Vórtice, Madrid, España.
• 1995 - Casa de la Cultura de San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Florida Blanca, Madrid, España.
• 1995 - Sala de Exposiciones de la Cancillería de Cultura, Alicante, España. Benidorm, Centro Cultura, CAM, España. Sala Ars Natura et Mundi, Barcelona. Centro Cultural Dr. Madrazo, Ayuntamiento de Santander, España.
• 1996 - “Las Visiones de Maximón”. Galería y Restaurante El Papagayo, Panajachel, Sololá.
• 1996 - “Rostros y Tiempo”, Galería y restaurante El Papagayo, Panajachel, Sololá.
• 1995- Casa de la Cultura, Ayuntamiento de Torrelodones, Madrid, España. Sala de Exposiciones Centro Cultural, CAM, España.
• 1997 - “Más Allá de la Región Transparente”, Salón José Rolz Benett, Facultad de Humanidades, USAC, Guatemala.
• 1997 - Exposición de miniaturas, Proyecto Cultural El Sitio, Antigua Guatemala.
• 1997 - “Síntesis de un Sueño”, Galería El Dzunún, Zona Viva, Guatemala, bajo el patrocinio del BANCO MUNDIAL.
• 1998 - “Alegorías y Metáforas”, Galería y Restaurante El Papagayo, Panajachel, Sololá.
• 1998 - “Interiores”, Salón Manolo Gallardo, Procuraduría General de la Nación, Guatemala.
• 1998 - “Alegorías y Metáforas”, Proyecto Cultural El Sitio, Antigua Guatemala.
• 1998 - “Alegorías y Metáforas”, Proyecto Cultural Vesica, Librería Frida Kahlo, Quetzaltenango.
• 1999 - “Raíces Míticas”, Restaurante y Galería El Papagayo, Panajachel, Sololá.
• 2000 - “Imágenes del Tiempo”, Galería de Arte, Panajachel, Sololá.
• 2000 - “Sueños Elementales”, Casa Solariega, Quetzaltenango.
• 2000 - Ilustración del libro de lectura, para segundo grado: - “Cuentos de las abuelas y abuelos mayas”, de la Editorial Saqbé, Chimaltenango.
• 2001 - “The Magical Realism of the imagination on Canvas”. Centro Cultura Los Encuentros Panajachel.
• 2001. - “Raíces Esenciales”, Instituto Guatemalteco de Cultura Hispánica, Guatemala.
• 2002 - Calendario 2003 MZK de Holanda, editado en Holanda..
• 2002 - “Vértices del Tiempo”, Centro de Formación de la Cooperación Española, Antiguo Colegio de la Compañía de Jesús, Antigua Guatemala.
• 2002 - “Vértices del Tiempo”. Restaurante y Galería - “Al Chisme”, Panajachel.
• 2003. - “Vértices del Tiempo”. Pana Rock Live, Panajachel.
• 2005 - Calendario MISSIO 2006, editado en Alemania.
• 2006 - Encuentros Esenciales, La Galería, Panajachel.