Rafael Squirru
Chronological
biography
1925 He is born on March 23rd in Buenos Aires.
1930 Participates in the Children's Painting Contest of the Association Amigos del Arte with his brother Eduardo and future artist Miguel Ocampo, among other children.
1938 Completes his primary education at St. Andrew's Scots School of Buenos Aires.
Begins painting lessons with artist Francisco Pascual Ayllón.
1943 Obtains high-school diploma at the Jesuit Colegio del Salvador with Gold Medal and Perpetual Excellence Award.
1945 Completes first two years of Law at the University of Buenos Aires.
Studies painting with Puig and drawing with Jos.
1948 Completes his academic studies in Law at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.
Returns to Buenos Aires and marries Mary Dodd. He is offered a position as a lawyer in the Compañía de Exportación de Carne Argentina (CAP) but declines the offer, deciding not to pursue a career in Law. His first painting exhibition takes place.
1950 His first daughter María Celina Augusta is born.
Second painting exhibition.
Starts his teaching career at the Colegio del Salvador, position he will keep for more than ten years.
1951 His daughter María Eloisa is born.
Third painting exhibition.
Writes articles on cultural policy and art in journals Demos and Ciudad.
1955 Exhibition of his temperas at Galatea Gallery.
Creates the publishing house Ediciones del Hombre Nuevo with poet Fernando Demaría where they publish works by Miguel Gallardo, Adela Leloir and Federico González Frías.
Ernesto Sábato hires him as art critic in his journal Mundo Argentino.
1956 Upon his initiative, the Museo de Arte Moderno de Buenos Aires (MAM) is created and he is nominated its director. The museum has no headquarters and the exhibitions are organized in other museums and as itinerant shows. The inaugural exhibition is shown at the Sívori Museum with artworks by Argentine artists and Uruguay's Grupo 8.
1957 Publication of his first book of poetry, La noche iluminada, by Ediciones del Hombre Nuevo illustrated with engravings by Mabel Rubli.
His father, renowned surgeon Carlos M. Squirru, dies at age 67.
1958 A MAM itinerant exhibition on the ship Yapeyú travels around the world with Cecilio Madanes and Argentine First Lady Elena Faggionato de Frondizi.
His second poetry book Amor 33 is published by Ediciones del Hombre Nuevo illustrated with engravings by Mabel Rubli.
1960 Thanks to his initiative, the MAM is given its headquarters at the newly constructed Teatro Municipal Gral. San Martín. Its first show occupies all the floors of the building and counts with the participation of such international artists as Pollock, Kline, De Kooning, Tobey, Capogrossi, Le Corbusier, Burri and several Latin American artists.
He is nominated Director of Cultural Affairs of the Argentine Foreign Ministry. As such, he sends sculptures by Alicia Penalba to the Sao Paolo Biennale and Antonio Berni's prints to the Venice Biennale. Both artists obtain First Prize in their respective fields.
His third book of poetry, Números, is published by Ediciones del Hombre Nuevo illustrated with engravings by Sergio Moyano.
Publication of his book on artist Barragán by Galería Rubbers.
1961 Publication of his book Leopoldo Marechal, Ediciones Culturales Argentinas.
Publication of his book Filosofía del arte abstracto, Ed. Museo de Arte Moderno.
1962 Is removed from the position as Cultural Director of the Foreign Ministry by the new Foreign Minister, Bonifacio del Carril. A protest demonstration is staged by 100 artists along the calle Florida which culminates in front of the Foreign Ministry. A petition to re-install him is published in daily La Nación signed by hundreds of clutural celebrities.
Participates in the first Inter-American Symposium of Culture in Paradise Island (Bahamas), where he meets Gore Vidal, Edward Albee, Arthur Schlesinger Jr. and Aaron Copland.
Travels to Washington D.C. with an IKA exhibition and meets President Kennedy. First Lady Jackie Kennedy visits the exhibition and is toured by Squirru.
1963 Becomes Director of the Cultural Department of the Organization of American States (OAS) and moves to Washington D.C. with his family.
President Kennedy is assassinated on November 22nd, two days after a meeting with Argentine intellectuals, among whom is Squirru.
1966 Publication of his book Poesía 1957-1966, Ed. Dead Weight.
Publication of his poetical commentary on the work of Juan Downey, Awareness of Love, HK Press.
1967 Travels to Argentina as representative of the OAS for the inauguration of Lincoln Presno's monument to John F. Kennedy in Quemú-Quemú, in the Argentine province of La Pampa. His inaugural speech provokes a violent reaction from the local military authorities and he is declared persona non grata by the mayor of Quemú-Quemú.
He impulses the publication of an English version of the Martín Fierro translated by Catherine E. Ward with illustrations by Antonio Berni, edited by the Research Foundation of the State University of New York.
1968 Publication of his essay Towards a World Community, Chicago, Academy of Arts and Sciences.
1970 Resigns from his post as Cultural Director of the OAS and returns to Buenos Aires with his family. He lectures in Argentina and abroad, writes articles in magazines and journals, participates in debates and TV and radio programmes, activities he will continue without interruption for the following 25 years.
Publication of his book Poesía 1966-1970, Juárez Ed., illustrated with woodcuts by Antonio Berni.
He opens a gallery of prints with Roberto Dorival and artist/writer Carlos Salatino.
1971 Beginning of his long collaboration as writer and consultant for Lyra of publisher Ecli Negrini.
Publication of his book of poetry La edad del cerdo y otros poemas, Ed. Dead Weight with prints by Pérez Celis.
1972 Publication of his book Leopoldo Presas, Ed. El Mangrullo.
His elder brother Eduardo dies at age 48.
1973 Publication of his book Pérez Celis by Ediciones del Hombre Nuevo.
Publication of his book of poetry Quincunce americano, Ed. Dead Weight.
His mother, Celina González de Squirru, dies at age 76.
1975 Publication of his books Albino Fernández, Ed. La Barca Gráfica; Antonio Berni, Ed. Dead Weight; Guillermo Roux, Ed. Dead Weight; Pintura, pintura, siete valores argentinos en el arte actual, Ediciones Arte y Crítica.
Publication of his book of poetry Cuaderno de bitácora, Ed. Dead Weight.
1976 Publication of his translation of William Shakespeare's Hamlet with illustrations by J. C. Liberti, Ed. Dead Weight.
Publication of his book Claves del arte actual, Ed. Troquel.
1977 Publication of his book of poetry La Corona, Buenos Aires, Ed. Dead Weight.
He is taken twice to a police station for interrogation regarding his political views. His publisher Ariel Canzani is arrested and tortured.
Publication of his book Números. Veinte años de poesía (1957-1977), Ed. La Barca Gráfica.
1978 Publication of his books Luis Seoane, Ed. Dead Weight; Liberti, Ed. Dead Weight; Pérez Celis, Buenos Aires, Ed. Taller libre.
1979 Publication of his book Arte de América: 25 años de crítica, Ed. Gaglianone.
Publication of his translation of William Shakespeare's The tempest, La tempestad, with illustrations by J.C. Liberti, Ed. Biblioteca Nacional.
1980 Publication of his book Héctor Giuffré, Ed. Gaglianone.
Publication of his play El Rey Salomón (a biblical drama in three acts), with illustrations by Raúl Soldi, Marchand Editorial.
1981 Publication of his books Batuz (with D. Ronte, R. A. Kuchta e C. Heigl), New York, Rizzoli International Publications; Buenos Aires y sus esculturas, Ed. Manrique Zago; Eduardo Mac Entyre, Ed. Gaglianone.
1982 Becomes a regular art critic and essayist for daily La Nación, activity he will continue without interruption until 2005.
Publication of his book Aldo Severi, Ed. Dead Weight.
1983 Publication of his book Arte argentino hoy. Una selección de 48 artistas, Ed. Gaglianone.
His Italian granddaughter María Chiaraviglio is born and he travels to Italy.
1984 Publication of his books Juan Del Prete, Ed. Gaglianone; Mariano Pagés: 1945-1983.
Publication of his book of art criticism in poetry 49 artistas de América: itinerario poético, Ed. Gaglianone.
His Italian grandson Lorenzo Chiaraviglio is born.
1985 His twenty year cycle of monthly interviews with artists ("Charlas con Artistas") begins at the CARI, Consejo Argentino de Relaciones Internacionales, invited by Ambassador Carlos Muñiz.
1986 Publication of his books Four Contemporary Painters from Argentina: Horacio Bustos, Pérez Celis, Kenneth Kemble, Juan Carlos Liberti, University of Florida; Miguel Ocampo, Ed. Gaglianone.
Publication of his book Ángeles y Monstruos, a selection of articles published in La Nación, Ed. Gaglianone.
Is awarded the Premio Konex for Humanities.
Publication of his book of poetry Chrysopeya del buen amor illustrated with woodcuts by Blas Castagna, Ed. Albino y Asociados.
1987 Publication of his book Kenneth Kemble, Ed. Gaglianone.
1988 Publication of his book Elena Tarasido: la opción de la libertad, Buenos Aires, Instituto Salesiano de Artes Gráficas.
Publication of his booklet Hacia la pintura: cómo apreciarla, Editorial Atlántida,
1989 Publication of his book Exigencias del arte, a selection of articles published in La Nación, Ed. Zurbarán.
Publication of his book Inés Bancalari 1976-1987, Ed. Gaglianone.
1990 Publication of his books Cuarenta maestros del arte de los argentinos (with I. Gutiérrez Zaldívar), Ed. Zurbarán; Gyula Kosice: obras Madi, Ed. Gaglianone; Quinquela: popular y clásico (with I. Gutiérrez Zaldívar), Ed. Zurbarán.
1991 Publication of his book Juan M. Sánchez, Ed. Ennio Ayosa.
Publication of his book El artista y su tiempo, a selection of articles published in La Nación, Ed. Rozenblum.
1992 Publication of his book Mara Marini, Ed. Iglesias Kuppenheim.
1993 Publication of his book Arte y humanismo, a selection of articles published in La Nación, Ed. Fundación Praxis.
1994 Publication of his book Carpani cabalga al tigre (with M. Vincent), Ed. Ollero y Ramos.
1995 Publication of his book Libros y libros, cuadros y cuadros, a selection of articles published in La Nación, Ed. Universidad de Morón.
1997 Publication of his book on Holocaust survivor and artist Roma Geber. Imágenes urbanas, Buenos Aires, Ed. Arte al Día.
Is awarded the Premio Konex de Platino and the Konex Diploma al Mérito en Comunicación - Periodismo.
1999 Publication of his books Leopoldo Torres Agüero, Fragments Editions; Pérez Celis (with Frederick Ted Castle y Peter Frank), Ed. Shapolsky.
Is rushed to hospital for an emergency operation on an aortic aneurysm.
2000 His professional activity diminishes dramatically and is limited to writing articles for daily La Nación and catalogue presentations for Argentine and foreign artists. He writes poems for journal Criterio. He continues with his "Charlas con artistas" at the CARI.
2005 Galería Zurbarán director I. Gutiérrez Zaldívar organizes an event to celebrate Squirru's 80th birthday. All the portraits of him by Argentine and foreign artists are exhibited for the occasion, among which those by Guillermo Roux, Carlos Alonso, Antonio Berni and Eduardo Mac Entyre. Seriously ill with renal problems, he is operated but contracts a hospital infection of which he would never fully recover. He eliminates almost all his professional activity and lives a recluse in his home, visited only by few friends and relatives.
2006 Alfredo Garrido interviews him for "Teacher's Day", his last appearance on the media.
2007 Is awarded the prestigious Gratia Artis Prize by the Academia Nacional de Bellas Artes. Artist and writer Daniel Pérez accepts the award for him.
2008 Publication of his biography Tan Rafael Squirru! by daughter Eloisa Squirru, Ed. Elefante Blanco.
2016 Dies on March 5th shortly before his 91st birthday. His ashes, respecting his will, are scattered in the Río de la Plata.