Colombians pay a final tribute to Fernando Botero. The remains of the artist, who died on September 15 in Monaco, arrived Thursday in Bogota, where hundreds of Colombians began to parade on Friday, September 22, in front of the coffin. The memorial ceremonies are expected to last a week. Cremation will take place in Medellin, Fernando Botero’s hometown, his ashes will then be buried in the village of Pietrasanta in Italy.
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With our correspondent in Bogota, Marie-Ève Detoeuf
On the facade of the Congress, two large banners have been unfurled. On one, the full-length portrait of Fernando Botero. THE ” Universal Colombian ”, we can read on the other. A few dozen people queue to pay their last respects to the artist. Men, many women, young people, retirees, ties, holey tennis shoes, work overalls.
For once, all Colombians seem to agree: “ We want to pay tribute to him because he was very important, very generous. Master Botero gave a very good image of Colombia abroad. It is “worth” as much as our flag or our national anthem. It was the beautiful face of Colombia. »
“ The most Colombian of Colombians »
The official tribute was held in the morning in the Senate hemicycle, where the coffin of Fernando Botero rests, surrounded by four presidential guards and superb bouquets. Lina Botero, the artist’s daughter, gave a speech: “ It was said of him that he was the most Colombian of Colombians. And I am convinced of it. Although he lived most of his life outside Colombia, Fernando Botero had the country firmly in his heart. He said that to be universal, you must first be local. »
One notable absentee is the President of the Republic, Gustavo Petro, who often misses his appointments.
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