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Kingman’s Living Room |
Kingman’s Living RoomOpening the door of a private house to see first-hand the treasures within is one of our favourite ways of turning a simple vacation into a cherished memory. By going behind the scenes you breathe life into the art, history and culture of a country.
Quito, the Capital of Ecuador offers two of the best opportunities to see a treasure trove of art in the private collections of two internationally-renowned artists, the late Eduardo Kingman and Oswaldo Viteri.
Internationally recognised for his assemblage works, Oswaldo Viteri’s beautiful, spacious home is jam-packed with a formidable collection of artistry across the centuries. Where the on-site studio is the heart of his creative outpourings in painting, drawing, print-making and mosaics, the house contains the body of one of the largest and most fascinating private art collections in the country.
Escorted by his charming wife Martha, visitors are captivated by the vast collection of folk art displayed to show the richness of Latin American folk art which includes Guatemalan tapestries, pre-Colonial ceramics and an outstanding sculpture of the Virgen de Quito complete with a silk dress and silver wings. Pieces jostle for space alongside paintings by Goya, Picasso and Miro. Donations are still being made by art collectors who appreciate the sheer quality of the collection which mirrors Viteri’s own pride in Ecuador’s rich cultural heritage and his own depiction of its hybrid identity.
If the multi-faceted beauty of the Viteri collection reflects the many passions of its patron – the former home of Eduardo Kingman remains a study of peace and tranquility near the village of Sangolqui. Converted and extended from the site of an old bakery, the charming, whitewashed building and its contents remain unchanged from when Kingman lived here in 1998. Today, his paintings and personal mementos are intertwined with an eclectic collection of 20th Century colonial artefacts and republican art. Where the studio is at the centre of the Viteri house, the Kingman house has three studios – one of preparation, one for painting and surprisingly another for carpentry. When touring the house in the charming company of his descendant Catalina Guerrero, it is gratifying to spot the window frames that the great man whittled alongside his impressive paintings typically depicting the plight of the Ecuador’s indigenous people.
To book a private visit to the Viteri or Kingman household, please contact your Aracari representative. When visiting the Kingman house you can also see two of Quito’s most historic haciendas La Herreria and Chillo Jijon which are close-by. |
