"Victor Humareda: A Black Orchid" – A Theatrical Tribute in Rome to the Master of Peruvian Expressionism

On October 19, 2024, at 7:00 PM, Rome will host a significant artistic and cultural event: the theatrical performance **"Victor Humareda: A Black Orchid"**, held at Spintime, via Santa Croce in Gerusalemme 55, near Metro A Manzoni. Directed by **Mario Delgado Vásquez** and creatively conceived by **Juan Maldonado**, this performance promises to immerse the audience in the life and work of one of the most enigmatic and fascinating painters of the 20th century: **Víctor Humareda Gallegos**.

### Who Was Víctor Humareda?

Born in Lampa, Peru, on March 6, 1920, Víctor Humareda was both a marginal and essential figure in Peruvian expressionist art. His life, marked by solitude and a tormented creativity, made him an eccentric and mysterious artist. His works reflect the shadows of his existence, pulsating with melancholy and delving into the darker sides of reality. Humareda lived on the fringes of society, choosing to reside in the humble inns of the La Parada neighborhood, a place populated by street vendors, informal workers, prostitutes, and criminals, but which became the heart of his creativity.

His passion for **Marilyn Monroe**, whom he saw as an ideal of beauty and fragility, deeply influenced his work, revealing the connection between the artist and his inner loneliness. Humareda expressed himself through paintings that, at first glance, may seem simple but, upon closer examination, unveil a depth that transcends the surface, conveying the weight of his emotions and life experiences.

### A Life Devoted to Art

Humareda’s life was marked by dramatic events from an early age, including the loss of his father in a crime of passion when he was only four years old. From a young age, he dreamed of becoming a painter, and with great determination, he left his home to study art, first in Arequipa and later in Lima. Despite financial hardships, he managed to attend the National School of Fine Arts in Lima, where he studied under renowned artists such as **José Sabogal**, **Julia Codesido**, and **Ricardo Grau**.

Throughout his career, Humareda held numerous solo exhibitions both in Peru and abroad. In 1950, he was awarded a scholarship that took him to Buenos Aires, where he honed his technique. However, his career was not without challenges: health problems, including the removal of his larynx, did not stop the artist from creating until his last breath. He passed away on November 21, 1986, shortly after completing his final painting, "La Quinta Heeren by Night."

### The Tribute of "A Black Orchid"

"Victor Humareda: A Black Orchid" aims to bring to life the complex universe of this extraordinary artist. The play, conceived by **Juan Maldonado** and directed by **Mario Delgado Vásquez**, retraces the key moments of Humareda's life, highlighting his sensitivity, fragility, and worldview. The title itself, "Black Orchid," alludes to the rarity of his persona: a dark, captivating flower whose beauty lies in its inaccessibility and the intensity of its solitude.

The performance not only focuses on the events that shaped Humareda’s life but also explores universal themes of desire, inner torment, and the relentless pursuit of an aesthetic ideal. His obsessive passion for Marilyn Monroe, symbolizing a beauty that is forever distant and unreachable, represents the soul of his work, the bridge between his inner world and the external universe.

### An Experience Not to Be Missed

The theater becomes the tool that gives voice to the silence that accompanied Humareda's life. Through a visual and performative language, "Victor Humareda: A Black Orchid" will offer the audience an immersive experience, allowing them to connect with the troubled soul of the artist and appreciate the value of his contribution to contemporary art.

Rome, with its rich cultural landscape, serves as the stage for this important tribute to a forgotten genius. It is a unique opportunity to rediscover Víctor Humareda and his art, while reflecting on how solitude and marginalization can become sources of creativity and inspiration.

The event is scheduled for **October 19, 2024**, at **Spintime**, via Santa Croce in Gerusalemme 55. For anyone who loves art and culture, this event will be an unmissable opportunity to explore the life and work of an artist who, despite the hardships, managed to leave an indelible mark on the history of Peruvian and international art.