Costa Cruises Commissions Monumental Sculpture by Fernando Botero to Add to Fleet’s Multimillion Dollar Art Collection

MIAMI – Costa, Europe’s Number One Cruise Line, has commissioned a monumental bronze sculpture by world-renowned artist Fernando Botero for its newest ship, the Costa Luminosa. The bronze sculpture is currently taking shape at the Mariani foundry in Pietrasanta, Italy, where Botero creates his works using the ancient traditional technique of lost wax casting. Once completed, the work of art will be installed in the atrium of the Costa Luminosa in May 2009, when the ship comes into service.

“Reclining Woman 2004″ depicts a voluminous female figure staring into space, daydreaming in a reclining position with a subtle and ironic expression and with her legs in a dynamic position of movement. The sculpture, which is 346 cm in length, 177 cm in breadth, 152 cm in height and 910 kg in weight, boasts an imposing presence which defines and influences the surrounding space, establishing an ongoing dialogue with the decoration in the atrium of the Costa Luminosa. The lone individual is the subject of many of the artist’s works, which often feature single female figures in striking poses, with expressions and attire that Botero uses to telling effect in order to convey personality, experience, thought and desire.

“The decision to acquire the sculpture ‘Reclining Woman 2004′ by Fernando Botero for the Costa Luminosa is first and foremost the consequence of a personal passion for that artist’s creative work as a whole and also represents the continuation of a tradition for Costa, namely that of decorating our ships with contemporary works embracing the various forms of expressive art and displaying them to our guests on vacation,” said Pier Luigi Foschi, Chairman and CEO of Costa Crociere. “This particular sculpture by Botero has such expressive force and energy that it will interact with and influence the setting and interior design in the spectacular atrium of the ship where it is to be permanently exhibited.”

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3. Manolo Valdes: Monumental Sculpture on Broadway
4. Christie’s Latin American Sale Offers Works by Botero, Matta and Tamayo
5. Portrait commissions at The Colomb Art Gallery London