Spanish
Santo Domingo.– The National Gallery of Fine Arts inaugurated the exhibition “Miguel Tió: Beyond the Real”, the first exhibition of the year 2026 in this emblematic cultural space, which will remain open to the public until February 26th.
During the opening ceremony, the general director of Fine Arts, Marianela Sallent, highlighted the relevance of the Dominican artist Miguel Tío, who has developed a large part of his career in the United States and whose trajectory has been consolidated internationally.You may be interested in: Activities at the Palacio de Bellas Artes will continue as normal
Sallent highlighted that Tió, like many great Dominican masters, was trained at the National School of Visual Arts, which confirms the importance of the public cultural system represented by the General Directorate of Fine Arts, an institution that currently has 23 Fine Arts schools, 20 music academies and eight professional artistic companies throughout the country. Historical transition in the direction of the Gallery The general director emphasized that the exhibition also marks a historic transition in the National Gallery, between the management of Marianne de Tolentino and the new director, the multidisciplinary artist Aniova Prandy, winner of the Grand Prize of the XXIX National Biennial of Visual Arts 2021 with the work The Sugar Maafa. In an emotional recognition, Sallent highlighted Tolentino's invaluable work in criticism, cultural management, and promotion of Dominican art, emphasizing her career as director of the National Gallery, cultural ambassador, director of the Cariforo Cultural Center, and member of international delegations to UNESCO, the UN, the OAS, and the European Union. She also recalled her multiple awards, including the Latin American Critics Award (1989), recognitions from the Dominican Association of Art Critics and the Corripio Foundation Award, as well as her distinction as Commander of the Order of Duarte, Sánchez and Mella. For her part, Marianne de Tolentino expressed her emotion and surprise at the tribute received, stating that she dedicated her life to the direction of the Gallery, to the organization of exhibitions and to writing about art with "devotion, love, passion and obsession". She assured that she will keep the recognition close to her workspace, as she is currently fully dedicated to writing. Tolentino also praised Aniova Prandy, assuring that he trusts her management and auguring success to her direction, highlighting that she has the full support of the General Directorate of Fine Arts. About Miguel Tío's work, critics highlighted his technical mastery, his handling of color, light and shadow, as well as his ability to transcend the visible towards the mystical, with a deep exploration of the human being through portraiture and the figure. In that sense, the new director of the National Gallery, Aniova Prandy Castillo, highlighted the historical importance of this space founded on August 15, 1943, and emphasized that, 83 years later, it maintains its mission of promoting artistic sensibility and cultural dialogue intact. Prandy invited the public to be challenged by Tió's works, pointing out that the exhibition proposes oneiric and reflective worlds that connect the tradition of the Renaissance with contemporary visions that challenge everyday perception. Miguel Tío returned to the country after 37 years Artist Miguel Tío thanked the Ministry of Culture, the General Directorate of Fine Arts, and the National Gallery for opening the doors to this exhibition, noting that returning to the Dominican Republic after 37 years represents a very significant moment in his career. "My artistic career was born here in Fine Arts, when I enrolled in the National School of Visual Arts. It all began here," he expressed. Tió explained that bringing his works was a great logistical challenge, so he decided to present smaller formats and, with the help of friends, managed to move 23 pieces that make up the exhibition. The exhibition “Miguel Tió: Beyond the Real”, which offers a journey through the prolific career of Miguel Tió, will be extended until February 26, exploring the different stages and styles that have defined his work over more than three decades. Through this retrospective, the public will be able to delve into a visual universe where the imaginary, the symbolic, and the spiritual converge to challenge the limits of the real.
