Mariano Díaz (photographer)
Encyclopedia
Mariano Díaz Bravo is a Chilean-born Venezuelan photographer, graphic designer and writer, best known for his contributions to the study and promotion of Venezuelan folk art
. In 1993, he received the Premio Nacional de Arte Popular "Aquiles Nazoa
" (Popular Culture National Prize), Venezuela's highest honor for folk artists and folk art promoters.
, 87 km south of Chile
's capital, Santiago. From 1954 to 1960, Díaz worked as a graphic designer for the University of Chile's Experimental Theater Department. Then, in 1960 he moved to Caracas
, Venezuela, invited by the Universidad Central de Venezuela. In Venezuela he worked as a photojournalist, graphic designer and writer for several Venezuelan newspapers and magazines, including La Esfera, El Mundo
, La República, and El Nacional
.. He was Director of Publications for the Universidad de Oriente
, Director of Art and Publications Advisor for the President´s Central Information Office and Publications Coordinator for CVF. Since 1978, Díaz has exclusively worked as a free-lance writer and graphic designer.
In the late 1970s, Díaz also begins photographing, documenting and collecting Venezuelan folk art, interviewing folk artists and promoting their works. Since the 1980s, he has published several books that portray some of the most representative Venezuelan folk artists, including Feliciano Carvallo and Sixto Sarmiento.
He has won several prizes for his photographic works, including the Venezuelan National Council for Culture CONAC first prize for photography (1984)
As a tribute to his publications and continuing support of Venezuelan folk art, Díaz was awarded the Premio Nacional de Arte Popular "Aquiles Nazoa
" (Popular Culture National Prize) in 1993.
In March, 2008, the Venezuelan National Museums Foundation bought 150 pieces of Díaz's folk art private collection, which are now part of a permanent exhibit at the Venezuelan National Folk Art Museum in Petare
, Venezuela.
Folk art
Folk art encompasses art produced from an indigenous culture or by peasants or other laboring tradespeople. In contrast to fine art, folk art is primarily utilitarian and decorative rather than purely aesthetic....
. In 1993, he received the Premio Nacional de Arte Popular "Aquiles Nazoa
Aquiles Nazoa
Aquiles Nazoa was a Venezuelan writer, journalist, poet and humorist. His work expressed the values of popular Venezuelan culture.He worked in the newspaper El Universal as a packer, later becoming a proof-reader...
" (Popular Culture National Prize), Venezuela's highest honor for folk artists and folk art promoters.
Biography
Mariano Díaz was born on 19 August 1929, in the city of RancaguaRancagua
Rancagua is a city and commune in central Chile, part of the Rancagua conurbation. It is the capital of the Cachapoal Province and of the O'Higgins Region, located south of the national capital of Santiago. It had a 2002 population of 214,344...
, 87 km south of Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
's capital, Santiago. From 1954 to 1960, Díaz worked as a graphic designer for the University of Chile's Experimental Theater Department. Then, in 1960 he moved to Caracas
Caracas
Caracas , officially Santiago de León de Caracas, is the capital and largest city of Venezuela; natives or residents are known as Caraquenians in English . It is located in the northern part of the country, following the contours of the narrow Caracas Valley on the Venezuelan coastal mountain range...
, Venezuela, invited by the Universidad Central de Venezuela. In Venezuela he worked as a photojournalist, graphic designer and writer for several Venezuelan newspapers and magazines, including La Esfera, El Mundo
El Mundo (Venezuela)
El Mundo is a Venezuelan evening newspaper.It was launched on 3 February 1958 in Caracas, shortly after the end of the dictatorship of Marcos Pérez Jiménez on 23 January 1958. It was founded by Miguel Ángel Capriles Ayala, who had launched Ultimas Noticias in 1941...
, La República, and El Nacional
El Nacional
El Nacional is a Venezuelan publishing company under the name C.A. Editorial El Nacional, most widely known for its El Nacional newspaper. It, along with Últimas Noticias and El Universal, are the most widely read and circulated daily national newspapers in the country, and it has an average of...
.. He was Director of Publications for the Universidad de Oriente
Universidad de Oriente
The University of Oriente Venezuela is a university located in Eastern Venezuela.The university has 5 campuses located in the states of Sucre, Anzoátegui, Monagas, Bolívar, and Nueva Esparta....
, Director of Art and Publications Advisor for the President´s Central Information Office and Publications Coordinator for CVF. Since 1978, Díaz has exclusively worked as a free-lance writer and graphic designer.
In the late 1970s, Díaz also begins photographing, documenting and collecting Venezuelan folk art, interviewing folk artists and promoting their works. Since the 1980s, he has published several books that portray some of the most representative Venezuelan folk artists, including Feliciano Carvallo and Sixto Sarmiento.
He has won several prizes for his photographic works, including the Venezuelan National Council for Culture CONAC first prize for photography (1984)
As a tribute to his publications and continuing support of Venezuelan folk art, Díaz was awarded the Premio Nacional de Arte Popular "Aquiles Nazoa
Aquiles Nazoa
Aquiles Nazoa was a Venezuelan writer, journalist, poet and humorist. His work expressed the values of popular Venezuelan culture.He worked in the newspaper El Universal as a packer, later becoming a proof-reader...
" (Popular Culture National Prize) in 1993.
In March, 2008, the Venezuelan National Museums Foundation bought 150 pieces of Díaz's folk art private collection, which are now part of a permanent exhibit at the Venezuelan National Folk Art Museum in Petare
Petare
Petare is a city in Miranda, Venezuela, and is part of the urban area of Caracas. It is the located in the Sucre Municipality, one of the five divisions of Caracas. The city was founded in 1621 under the name of San Jose de Guanarito...
, Venezuela.