Juan Oliveira Viéitez
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22 October 1928
Juan Oliveira Viéitez | |
|---|---|
 Os cabalos at the Plaza de España, Vigo | |
| Born | Juan José Oliveira Viéitez 22 October 1928 Pazos de Reis, Tui, Spain |
| Died | 16 April 2002 (aged 73) Vigo, Spain |
| Education | Complutense University of Madrid |
| Occupation | Sculptor |
| Known for | Monumental sculpture |
| Children | Mercedes Oliveira Malvar |
| Awards | Castelao Medal (2001) |
Juan José Oliveira Viéitez (22 October 1928 – 16 April 2002) was a Spanish sculptor from Galicia, known for large-scale bronze figures of horses and bulls installed in public spaces across Spain.[1][2] His best-known work is Os cabalos (The Horses), a 20-metre fountain sculpture at the Plaza de España, Vigo.[1] He received the Castelao Medal in 2001.[3]
Oliveira was born in Pazos de Reis, a parish of Tui, into a family that owned the biscuit factory La Peninsular.[4] He studied industrial engineering at the Complutense University of Madrid.[1] Back in Galicia, he became a businessman and served as president of the Tui Chamber of Commerce from 1959 to 1969.[4] He also held the post of vice-consul of Portugal in Tui.[1]
A horse breeder who competed in equestrian events, Oliveira did not begin sculpting until he was past forty.[1][4] His work focused on monumental animal figures, particularly horses.[5] He also modelled sporting, bullfighting, and children's subjects.[1]
He died on 16 April 2002 in Vigo.[1] His daughter, Mercedes Oliveira Malvar, is a philosopher and feminist writer.[2]
Works
Oliveira's sculptures are installed in several Spanish cities. In Vigo, his most prominent works include Os cabalos (The Horses), a 20-metre bronze fountain at the Plaza de España, Vigo; O rapto de Europa (The Abduction of Europa), a 7-metre, 1,500-kilogram bronze at the Samil Beach roundabout erected in 1991; and two equestrian figures on the roof of the Teatro García Barbón.[1][6][7]
Elsewhere in Spain, he created Pegaso for Madrid–Barajas Airport[8] and a monumental dog sculpture for the zoo at the Casa de Campo in Madrid.[9] Other works include a monument to Alfonso IX in Baiona and a wild horse sculpture in Tui.[1] His output also extended to Guadalajara and Menorca.[2]
Awards
Oliveira won a gold medal at the first Bienal de Pontevedra art exhibition.[5] In 2001, the Xunta de Galicia awarded him the Castelao Medal.[3]
Gallery
Os cabalos, Plaza de España, Vigo
Wild horse monument, Tui
Monument to Alfonso IX, Baiona![Equestrian figure, Teatro García Barbón [gl]](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Juan_Oliveira_Vi%C3%A9itez%2C_Teatro_Garc%C3%ADa_Barb%C3%B3n%2C_Vigo.jpg/120px-Juan_Oliveira_Vi%C3%A9itez%2C_Teatro_Garc%C3%ADa_Barb%C3%B3n%2C_Vigo.jpg)
Equestrian figure, Teatro García Barbón
![Equestrian figure, Teatro García Barbón [gl]](#/media/File:Juan_Oliveira_Viéitez,_Teatro_García_Barbón,_Vigo.jpg)
