Guillermo Roux: Nocturnos at the Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo...

8:23 p.m.

Nocturnos (in English, of the night). Probably the name of the exhibit makes us think of night situations, starry skies, dark colours. However you are in for a big surprise when going down to the lower level of the Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo: Nocturnos is, in fact, an approach to daily kitchenware.

As it happens, by 2011, artist Guillermo Roux (BsAs, 1929) started suffering back problems, with such severe pain that he found it hard to sleep. Insomnia had him wandering at night around the house, thus discovering a blank copybook. Every night he would sketch drawings of knives, forks and spoons with charcoal, making them leading characters of unexpected stories, as Alberto Bellucci explained.

Forks, spoons and skimmer, by Guillermo Roux (2011)

Technique: charcoal and pastels / Measures: 28.5 x 31.5

Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo

Cutlery lying out of drawers prove that they were used recently, that someone had cooked and dined. Roux expressively asked those in the house to leave everything untouched after dinner, so he could later sketch their presence.

Ladle and spoon, by Guillermo Roux (2011)

Technique: charcoal and pastel / Measures: 28.5 x 31.5 cm

Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo

Even the simplest of objects is placed into the spotlight and makes as smile...

Mortimer, by Guillermo Roux (2012)

Technique: Charcoal / Measures: 51.5 x 70.5

Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo

The truth is beauty usually lies in simple things and Roux was able to discover it.

Lettuce, stariner and three cups, by Guillermo Roux (2011)

Technique: charcoal and pastels / Measures: 56 x 76.5 cm

Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo

In one of the rooms in the exhibition you'll be able to see a movie where the artist is shown at work and, although at first his hand seems shaky, it gains firmness when touching the paper. His ability to handle the charcoal and enhance the details using pastels is surprising.