Xul Solar

Rating:
Summary: "Xul Solar is one of the most peculiar events of our times"
Review: "A man well versed in all disciplines, curious about each and every mystery, father of alphabets, languages, utopias and mythologies, host of paradises and infernos, author, pan-chess player, and perfect astrologer in indulgent irony and generous friendship, Xul Solar is one of the most peculiar events of our times". That's Jorge Luis Borges definition of his friend Xul Solar, a person he evidently admired deeply.

Xul Solar (1887-1963) was the pen name of a wonderful Argentinian artist, Oscar Agustín Alejandro Schulz Solari, who incorporated different elements in his strange but interesting works. He was an eclectic, and as such dabbled in mysticism, astrology, numerology and many other subjects... All of that can be observed in his paintings, who vary a lot through his different periods. Not content with being a painter, he was also a sculptor, a writer and an inventor of two imaginary languages ("Pan Criollo" y "Pan Lingua").

This book contains some of Xul Solar's best works, but isn't by any means complete, and lacks an in-depth analysis even of the paintings included. All the same, it is a good way to start studying his work, and due to the fact that it isn't expensive you will get good value for your money. On the whole, I recommend it to those who know little or nothing about Xul Solar, and want to know at least something more, or simply to enjoy his wonderful paintings.

Belen Alcat