The Peruvian artist Carlos Bernasconi died at the age of 99

Age is never an excuse to abandon passions, a reflection of this is the tireless work of the Peruvian artist Carlos Bernasconiwho, one year shy of turning a century of life, died at the age of 99, leaving works that were a reflection of his multifaceted life whose legacy he leaves for immortality.

Coming from a family without men for three generations, the artist’s life began with a vain attempt to venture into the world of medicine as an assistant in the medicine warehouse at the Dos de Mayo National Hospital, pressured by his grandfather. During his brief stay in the ancient walls of the building run by a French nun, the young Bernasconi discovered that he did not really want to be a doctor; Instead, a taste for art began to grow.

His inclination for paintings and oil paintings led him to study at the National School of Fine Arts, where, after a short time, he decided to change brushes for pencils when studying Literature at the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. This new adventure only lasted two years, at which point, with interest in ceramics and sculpture, he returned to Fine Arts in 1945, thus showing the first traits of his multifaceted personality that for his family would be nothing more than indecision.

Although the art was considered unviable by those close to him, a close friend of Bernasconi’s parents, who was the engraver of the Mint, supported him by teaching him the art of metal engraving, thus creating his first medal with the face of Caesar. Vallejo. Some time later, this new profession took him to a Europe that was recovering from World War II, a period in which he lived on a dollar a day while working at the Spanish Mint.

Inside the Workshop

Among so many passions, he found in woodcut a way to express his admiration for Peruvian figures such as José María Arguedas, Augusto Salazar Bondi, Martin Adán, Alejandro Romualdo, Jorge Basadre and other figures whose detailed portraits are found in the “Bernasconi” catalog of the retrospective exhibition of the artist at the John Harriman Gallery in 2010.

In addition to art exhibitions, he also managed to publish two books of stories, “The blue symbol and other stories” and “Stories of neighborhood and distances.” Although before his death, Bernasconi had to abandon some of his tastes, such as bronze sculptures due to the high cost, driving his car in traffic and talking with deceased friends such as the literary critic Abelardo Oquendo. “I am one of the last of my generation. “The loneliness is tremendous.”. However, his workshop on the second floor of the Teatro de Lucía, named after his wife and first actress of the theater, Lucía Irurita, was a refuge where his scattered ideas took shape in new pieces that he presented in some exhibitions.

In his workshop there are still projects to be carried out, something common for the artist who did not worry about time, since he understood that it would always be lacking. “I have little time left. I have lived so much. I have beaten everyone, except my literature teacher from the Italian school Luis Bedoya Reyes, who is already over 100. But death is something so natural…”he declared in an interview with El Comercio two years before Bedoya Reyes’ death and four before his own.

Last goodbye

After his departure, several artists, family members and friends said goodbye to the artist through social networks with messages that highlighted the figure of the artist, who continued doing what he was most passionate about every day: art.

“Lucía, Irurita, Sandra and I deeply regret the death of the greatest multidisciplinary artist Carlos Bernasconi. Extraordinary in all areas and as an exceptional human being. From now on, we are missing you. “Love you, gatao”wrote the theater actress and daughter of the late artist, Cecilia Bernasconi.

For its part, the Ministry of Culture also spoke out after the death. “We regret the death of Carlos Bernasconi, a plastic artist who made his art known through paintings, engravings, woodcuts and sculptures. “His works marked an era in the cultural life of Peru.”.

With almost a century of life, Carlos Bernasconi leaves a legacy through his sculptures, paintings, medals, books, jewelry, engravings and other manifestations. Despite having paved the way for several artists, such as the photographer Ana María McCarthy, the master himself did not consider his work to have greater relevance: “There are more important people. “I don’t consider myself important or a character.”.