“Dos Varela Un Mundo” Exhibition by Fernando Varela and Mónica Varela at Fundación LiLeón

March 24, 2023, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Design Week RD (DWRD) – the annual stage where the achievements of the design sector are shown and celebrated, as well as the future vision of Dominican design – served as a platform for the presentation of the exhibition “Dos Varela Un Mundo”, a perfect opportunity where the sculptures and paintings of Fernando Varela and the jewels of Mónica Varela are presented in an intimate and welcoming space.

The exhibition was held from March 13 to 19, at the Fundación LiLeón, located at calle Hostos No. 256, Ciudad Colonial, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., where more than 2,500 people were able to get closer to the art of this family, who among sculptures, paintings and jewelry offered a very emotional look to all attendees.

On March 13, a private cocktail was held to welcome the international guests of the Latin American Fashion Summit (LAFS) – a space that connects emerging designers and young Latin American entrepreneurs in the fashion industry – and the immersive proposal was presented in a relaxed atmosphere, where the guests and the local figures linked to the world of art and fashion mingled. Mrs. Lidia León, president of the Fundación LiLeón, together with the artists Fernando Varela and Mónica Varela welcomed the guests.

As part of the activities carried out within the framework of the exhibition, on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, the artist Fernando Varela received a group of students from the Instituto Salomé Ureña with whom he shared his experiences in the artistic world, the challenges he faced and the important teachings that have left her dedication and focus. Mr. Varela said that when Mónica, his daughter, was just 8 years old, she gave him a piece of paper cut with oval figures that was very interesting to him and showed him her clear artistic inclination. He treasured this gift for many years until the moment he understood that he had to return to its author, and he gave it to her to serve as inspiration on the artistic path she wanted to undertake.

Continuing with the opportunities to link with the Ciudad Colonial educational community, on Wednesday, March 15, the Fundación LiLeón coordinated a visit with the students of both Instituto Salomé Ureña and Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes (ENAV), with the presence of the director of the ENAV, Mrs. Iris Pérez. The students enjoyed a very emotional conversation with Mr. Fernando Varela, where they asked the artists about his inspiration, as well as about the colors he uses in his works. The artist shared that, initially, his sculptures and paintings had sober colors, but over time he expanded and his latest creation – the painting “Essays of the Infinity” – contains an amalgam of vibrant colors delicately placed on three layers of letters of the alphabet. 

The students of the Escuela República de Argentina were able to enjoy on Thursday, March 16, an interesting interaction with Mónica Varela, who spoke to them about her first steps in art, how her father’s example allowed her to find that line of approach and dedication to achieve, at such a young age, success in an area as complex and difficult as jewelry. She shared with the students that the important thing is to prepare, identify your passion and work on hone your talent every day. Similarly, she highlighted that the stones in her jewelry reflect who she is: Dominican (Larimar), intriguing (Ambar) and feminine (Piedra de Luna).

On the afternoon of Thursday, March 16, 4 special sessions of the Alchemy Crystal Singing Bowls Concert were presented by Madame Anne, who accompanied the attendees to delve into and experience healing through sound, achieving synergy with the exhibited pieces and the beautiful purpose to bring people to a broader state of consciousness, inviting them to grow in their personal lives. 

. The curatorship was the responsibility of Raylin Díaz, creative director and Dominican Storyteller, who has stood out for his extraordinary work internationally. Raylin presented a visual narrative that reflected that common thread where both artists converge through their works and talents, provoking the visitor to enjoy a multisensory experience, where there was a special connection between the paintings and sculptures of the father, and the jewels of the daughter, with a dialogue in off that accompanies the tour.