Backwards Man

Early Life and Education

• Born: January 11, 1934, Córdoba, Argentina
• Died: February 26, 2022
• Seguí's artistic journey began with extensive travels throughout Europe and Africa from 1951 to 1954.
• He was a visiting student at the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando in Madrid and the École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts in Paris, studying painting and sculpture.
• Early influences included Fernand Léger and Diego Rivera.

Artistic Style and Themes

• Seguí’s works are characterized by a satirical sense of humor, critiquing society and human nature.
• A defining feature is the presence of little men wearing hats, stemming from childhood memories of public spaces.
• His style evolved from expressionist figuration to an absurd and theatrical representation of humanity.
• Recurring themes include urban life, its inhabitants depicted as hurried figures in labyrinthine landscapes.
• He often incorporated tango imagery, considering it a primary Argentinian myth.
• Seguí deliberately deformed the human figure, reminiscent of children's art or Outsider art.
• His work utilizes cubist techniques with repeated urban elements and emphasis on line and color.

Career Development and Major Works

• From the 1960s onward, Seguí followed a figurative tendency.
• He worked in various mediums including painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, and set design.
• Notable works include:
• Gente de las azoteas (1992) - A large-scale canvas depicting a crowd of figures.
• Se llamaba Charles Atlas (2001)
• Pasar desapercibido (2001)
• Sacando la Lengua (1965)
• El Fumador (1966)
• He collaborated with Giorgio Strehler, designing sets for the Scala Theater in Milan.

Awards and Recognition

• Grand Prize at the V International Tokyo Biennial (1966).
• First International Prize of Darmstadt (1967).
• Grand Prize at the Carcovia Biennial, Poland (1967).
• Grand Prize at the Biennial of San Juan, Puerto Rico (1968).
• Grand Prize at the Salon de Montrouge, France (1977).
• Konex Prize Expressionist Painting (1982).
• Instituto Torcuato Di Tella Award (1989).
• Grand Prize National Fund of the Arts (1990).
• Gold Medal XI Norwegian International Graphic Triennial.
• Konex Platinum Award: Graphic (2002).
• Corresponding Member of the French Academy of Sciences and Arts.

Legacy and Historical Significance

• Seguí’s legacy lies in his satirical commentary on society and human nature through humor and irony.
• His distinctive style, particularly the recurring motif of little men with hats, has become iconic.
• He is recognized for blending Argentinian heritage with European artistic influences.
• His work reflects a critical yet poetic gaze on urban life and the modern condition.
• Seguí’s art continues to inspire artists and art lovers alike, solidifying his place as a significant figure in 20th-century Latin American and European art.