The Life and Artistic Evolution of Oscar Bony

Born in the city of Posadas, in the northern province of Misiones, Oscar Bony was the son of Emma Martinez, a Paraguayan teacher, and Luciano Roman Bony, an Argentine wrangler and saddle maker. His formal artistic journey began under the guidance of Lucas Braulio Areco, and at the age of 17, he commenced studying painting with a local professor. His training took him to the Escuela Preparatoria de Bellas Artes in Buenos Aires in 1959, and later to the Instituto Torcuato di Tella. Despite studying under Demetrio Urruchua and Juan Carlos Castagnino, and working as an assistant for Antonio Berni, Bony often considered himself a self-taught artist. His early work reflected a certain expression of realism before moving toward the new figuration movement.

His creative output was diverse, spanning painting, live installations, and video, before he eventually focused primarily on photography. Between 1967 and 1973, he served as a photographer for a record label group in Argentina. His career was marked by significant movement, including a period in Milan following the military coup in Argentina in 1976, before his return to Argentina after the dictatorship ended in 1988.

Themes and Notable Works

Bony's work frequently addressed themes of violence, suicide, justice, execution, and death. One of his most significant installations, La Familia Obrera (The Working Class Family), was executed in 1968. This controversial piece involved a working-class family seated on a pedestal for eight hours while recorded sounds of their everyday life played in the background. Another notable work, 60 Metros Cuadrados y su Informacion (60 Square Meters and its Information), from 1967, utilized chain-link fence on a gallery floor to create an experience of being held captive.

In his later years, Bony turned toward photography, specifically a series titled Suicidios. This series included works such as Fue, no Fue, Nunca Los Sabremos (It was him, It was not him, We will never know) and Kriminal, which depicted a man shot dead on a staircase. His final years were spent working on his suicide series, though he ultimately died from an intestinal disease.