2020-11-07 BRAZIL

Goyo: the story of the painter who gave life to the face of Champagnat

“Art gives me a lot of joy, because I realize that it is my way of passing on to people my love for life, my sadness and my joy”. With this simplicity and delicacy, Gregorio DomĂ­nguez González explains how he understands his vocation as a painter. “There is a lot of myself in each work I paint”.

Born in the province of Burgos, in Spain, Goyo, as he is affectionately called, has a history very close to the Marist mission. Among the many stories, he is recognized as the one who gave life to the face of Champagnat, an image present in the innumerable places of Marist mission around the world: different corridors, murals and classrooms of Marist places.

The beginning of the Marist journey

With a journey that began in 1970, Goyo says he joined the Congregation at the age of 10. “The disciplines were a little difficult for him, since he had a soul and taste for art”, says Brother AgustĂ­n Carazo, formator of the young Goyo, during his first years in the Novitiate. He remembers that, at that time, he helped Goyo in some school subjects and he asked him for his notebook. “I was amazed when I saw the whole notebook full of pencil drawings. They were very expressive”, says Brother Carazo. “To encourage him, I sent him to the Diario Mural del Seminario, and that’s when I realised that he was a little drawing genius”.

Just like this episode, the experience in the Congregation of the Brothers was a gift for the future painter who, throughout his formation, received several invitations to collaborate in the artistic projects of different Marist places. “In this process I always had the opportunity to express what I liked, if there was a need for some decoration or some project related to painting, I did it”, says Goyo. “Then, I made several interpretations of the figure of Champagnat and murals related to the life of Champagnat in the schools”, he recalls.

From love to profession

When he left the congregation, at the age of 27, Goyo was invited by an English businessman, together with another group of artists, to hold an exhibition in Madrid. At that time, he recalls that he realised that he was beginning his life as a professional painter. “It was a very interesting and learning experiences because of the exchanges I had with my fellow artists, because of the people and places I met. I think it was what drove my career”. For him, this was a great opportunity: “it was an excellent alternative, because I always liked painting, but I didn’t know how to sell”. With simplicity and love for art, Goyo says that he followed this path for many years until the middle of 2018. After that period, and until now, he works alone, in his studio.

In all these years, he reaffirms that what motivates him to continue exercising this vocation are people and their stories. Moved, he remembers fondly an episode in which a lady bought his work at an exhibition in London. “I remember that she bought me a painting and she seemed very happy and grateful. For me it was surprising that something that was born inside me could make someone happy,” he explains. “I can paint, paint and paint, but if people don’t connect with what I do I feel bad, I don’t communicate, I feel lonely and I don’t express what’s inside me”.

Another project in which he took part was an initiative carried out with an association together with five artists in a street in Calabria, Italy. “The proposal was to paint some walls in a specific street. It was nice to see the people who approached us, the children who asked about the work”, he recalls. “The painter’s work is very lonely, but this project gave me a connection with people, with the history of the villages and with the other artists,” he mentions.

Painter of Champagnat

With a career already recognized in several places in Europe, Goyo is known for the form of human expression in his works. “The human face is something that has always attracted my attention. When I paint a face, I realise the infinite expressions a person can have: it is enough to change the brushstroke a little, the distance from the eyes, well, there is an ocean of possibilities to show different expressions and feelings”, explains the painter.

And his contribution to his Marist journey was no different. Like all young people with a vocation, he knew Champagnat and his history after entering the Novitiate, while his closeness and link with the history of the founder of the Marist mission was encouraged by Brother AgustĂ­n Caroza, who is his friend today. “It was he who encouraged me to investigate more about the life of Champagnat and to paint his face”, he recalls. “With his motivation, and studies that I did in France, I managed to get closer to the representation of Champagnat”, says Goyo. “I also believe that spirituality directly influenced my production. If I had not entered the congregation, it would have been difficult . Despite his departure from the Institute, Goyo mentions that Champagnat is an inspiration for his vocation and work. “The values of Marist work, listening, being close to people, being a leader and doing everything with a lot of love and simplicity was something that I learned from the Marist Brothers and which I carry in my life,” he says. Among the different paintings produced by Goyo, the best known was the one he did for the Canonization in 1999. Besides that, his paintings with representations of Champagnat and his life are found in the different corridors, murals and classrooms of Marist places throughout the world.

Stories of humanity

“Now my dream is that they find a vaccine against the coronavirus so that we can be together again,” the Marist painter reveals with grace and hope. Currently, going through the pandemic, Goyo maintains that, during this sensitive period, he has experienced difficult and uninspired times.

Revealing his humanity and sensitivity, he mentions that, contrary to what one might think, during the quarantine, he moved away a little from the canvases and approached music as a valve to meditate and seek good sensations. “Without much encouragement to paint, in those days I was learning to play the guitar”, he says.

Educating through art

With a journey full of stories and experiences, the Spanish painter always takes up the Marist charism as a philosophy of life and shares his admiration for the search for a more fraternal world through education. “The important thing is to reach the heart of people: whether through painting, music, theatre or any other art”, he says. “To use all the technical opportunities that exist to create and manifest life.

After all, art is about life,” he says. “For education, art is a wonderful tool,” reaffirms Goyo. “Transmitting knowledge through art is a fun, simple way and generates more willingness to live and share the experience of life”.

______________

Interview with the Province of Brasil Sul-AmazĂ´nia

Interview > Br. Lluis Serra 2005

PREV

Marist ministry in the Bolivia sector: Walkin...

NEXT

Perpetual profession of Br. Peter Zulu...