The Art of Perseverance
Award-winning sculptor wins People’s Choice for his “Window to the Past,” a majestic T-Rex at Tuscawilla Park.
Flamino Antonio in front of “Window to the Past” a/k/a T-Rex, which won the People’s Choice award in the 2022 Ocala Outdoor Sculpture Competition. [Photograph supplied]
The Colombian-born artist and Ocala resident shared with the Gazette that he celebrates Marion County’s equine tradition and strives to help Ocala become known for its beauty, culture art and community.
On Saturday, Antonio won People’s Choice honors for his “Window to the Past” Tyrannosaurus Rex recycled metal sculpture in the biennial Sculpture Stroll. Two years ago, his majestic horse, “The Strength of Perseverance,” won Best in Show and People’s Choice. The city purchased the sculpture and recently relocated Antonio’s equine masterpiece to the Ocala International Airport.
“This beautiful farmland-styled city gives me the tranquility I need to get the physical and mental balance to execute my work,” he said. “Here, I have been able to develop myself professionally thanks to the support we receive as artists living in Ocala; furthermore, their galleries and art offices are always open to support us.”
This year, Antonio’s majestic T-Rex towers over Lake Tuscawilla with prehistoric-meets-futuristic prowess, cobbled from wrenches and other odds and ends.
“This piece was an idea that I had one night, of so many, in which I could not sleep,” he said. “My mind begins to fly and sometimes it is very difficult for me to control it. Suddenly I began an imaginary journey to the past and what began with an idea strengthened as it passed through my heart, until it reached my hands in my small workshop. In the end, what began as an illusion was transformed into reality.”
Born and raised in Bogotá, Antonio spent most of his life in Colombia. He and his wife and daughters relocated here around eight years ago.
As a child and teenager, he could not attend art school because of the chaotic climate caused by violent conflicts between the government and paramilitary groups.
“In my family, nobody influenced me to become an artist,” he said of his upbringing. “They also did not like the idea that I worked with welding instruments.”
Still, his curiosity and interest in knowing the functioning of things continued to grow.
“As a child, I felt immense pleasure to see the creation of objects made by human hands,” he said. “Little by little that passion was growing and gaining strength and, to this day, it has not depleted, I still feel the same. Even though at that time I didn’t realize it, my essence as an artist was already taking over me.”
The persevering artist did not have the opportunity to attend a university, or a school of art, although he had wanted to.
“My artistic training has been the result of a coalescence of experiences throughout my life,” he said. “I have dedicated much of my time to the research, analysis and observation of sculptural creations and I can say that I am a self-taught artist.”
Most of the sculptures Antonio creates depict animals, but he has created versions of motorcycles and guitars.
“Fortunately, I am able to find inspiration in almost anything,” he said. “There is beauty in everything we see daily, even in the simplest things, you just need to have a little sensibility to find it.”
Antonio added that he enjoys working with scrap metal because it provides infinite possibilities with its different shapes and textures.
“I almost always use iron and steel,” he shared, “but I also include elements of copper, bronze and aluminum. Since all my sculptures are made entirely of used and discarded metals, I try to give these materials a second, productive life, because for me each of these pieces tells its own story.”
By gathering hundreds or even thousands of pieces in a single sculpture, Antonio contributes layers of “character and strength” to his works while also “rescuing some sentimental value.”
The full-time artist compared his process to the human condition: “If only one individual has immense potential, then imagine what it would be like if we all worked together to achieve common benefits, perhaps, the world would be a better place for future generations.”
What lies ahead for Antonio?
“Well, my short-term plan is to have a larger workshop to make my life a little easier. I want to keep spending my time with my family — my wife and my daughters are my main source of support and inspiration. Without them, the result would not have been the same,” he said.
“I also try, whenever possible, to use my time in the most valuable way in order to enjoy the miracle of living and I want to continue to lead a simple and quiet life, always trying to do what is right,” he added. “I want my work to become a positive element in the lives of people who relate to my sculptures, give them joy, even if it is momentary. It is something that, for me, has great value and why not awaken the sensibility and creativity that many carry inside, perhaps this way we will find some happiness within ourselves.”
To learn more about the City of Ocala Recreation and Parks Department, including the Tuscawilla Art Park Series, visit ocalafl.org.
The winners of the 2022-23 Ocala Outdoor Sculpture Competition:
- Best of Show:
“The Three Musketeers” by Gus and Lina Ocamposilva (Clearwater, FL)
- Second Place:
“Golden Oak Leaf Arch II” by Jim Gallucci (Greensboro, NC)
- Honorable Mention:
“Exploratory Unit 01” by Harry McDaniel (Ashville, NC)
Support community journalism
The first goal of the Ocala Gazette is to deliver trustworthy local journalism so corruption, misinformation and abuse are not hidden from the public or unchallenged.
