Vampiros Vegetarianos by Remedios Varo (Interpretation and Analysis)

Vampiros Vegetarianos
Source: Christies

One of the most enjoyable things about Surrealist art is its charm. The work of modernists artists is often highly original and inventive, freed from the constraints of the patronage system that forced successful artists to take commissions from wealthy elites.

Spanish-Mexican artist Remedios Varo was one the most creative artists of her age, and was one of the leaders of the famed Mexican Surrealist movement. While Mexican born artists developed a unique style incorporating elements of magical realism at the beginning of the twentieth century, that style was augmented when a stream of European Surrealist artists arrived in Mexico as they fled World War II. Varo was one such artist. After leaving Europe in 1941, she spent the rest of her life living and working in Mexico. Throughout her artistic career, she produced a tremendous volume of strange and unusual paintings, populated by a multitude of fantastical characters and creatures.

However, Vampiros Vegetarianos (which translates to Vegetarian Vampires) remains one of her most charming paintings. Painted towards the end of her life, the piece portrays three strange vampires who, instead of blood, drink the juice of bright red fruits. As they drink, a corona of fiery light radiates from the vampires, suggesting that the juice rejuvenates the creatures. The vampires hold two chicken-like creatures, which seem to be pets, on leashes. The piece was sold in 2015 for over three million dollars, making it one of Varo’s highest-selling paintings at the time.

The exact meaning of the painting is unclear, it is undoubtably a charming and sweet piece of art that captures the imagination of viewers. Like all Surrealists, Varo tried to challenge existing expectations and encourage viewers to question their assumptions, and she was certainly able to achieve this through Vampiros Vegetarianos. However, it is important to remember that, at its core, Surrealism was a form of self expression and exploration. As art historian Virgilio Garza writes, “perhaps unencumbered by the precepts of the European surrealist movement it was in Mexico, and in works like Vampiros Vegetarianos, where Varo crafted her own unique approach, and in the process left an indelible mark on the history of Surrealism and Modernism.”

Disclaimer: I’m not an art historian or an expert on this topic. The above is my opinion, based on my interpretation of my foreknowledge of art and history. If I’ve done any additional research, I’ll note it above.