Eduardo Kingman: 100 years after his birth

Posted On 04 Feb 2013

Ecuador remembers and celebrates Ecuadorian painter Eduardo Kingman Riofrío for its hundred years of birth. Known as “the painter of hands”, the artist stands out in the history of national art for his legacy on social painting.

Eduardo Kingman

Eduardo Kingman Riofrío, born in Loja on February 3, 1913, became, over the years, one of the main pillars in the Ecuadorian painting by his expressionist work and his political and social ideas.

In most of his works it can be seen the pain and mistreatment of indigenous people and this trend catapulted him as one of the greatest exponents of Indigenism and expressionism of all time in Ecuador, shaping a social message through his art.

Kingman’s paintings are characterized by the large and powerful hands of his characters, restless symbol of strength, for what he gained a reputation as “the painter of hands”. They represented the strength, struggle, work, sacrifice, pain and love of Native Ecuadorians.

This artist was not only respected for his work, but also for being a respectable man with great humanity.

Soledad Kingman, daughter of artist and president of the Posadas de las Artes Kingman Foundation, announced that the centenary of his late father will be held in the upcoming months with a tour of his works throughout the country.

This foundation is planning various events nationwide to present educational material on the painter to be distributed in some schools, a traveling exhibition that will tour several cities accompanied by music and lectures.