Rubén Martínez Bulnes (7 July 1929 – 17 July 2023) was a Salvadoran architect and sculptor. He is considered the author of the country's most prolific sculptural art.

Early life

His interest in art began in his infancy. As a young person he wanted to become an

architect An architect is a person who plans, designs, and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...

, but he ended up studying civil engineering like his father.El Faro
Plática con Rubén Martínez
/ref> His career as a sculptor began when he collected metallic remains from the place where he studied. He received his first instruction from

welder A welder is a person or equipment that fuses materials together. The term welder refers to the operator, the machine is referred to as the welding power supply. The materials to be joined can be metals (such as steel, aluminum, brass, stainles ...

Career

The predominant material in his creations are metals and

forged Forging is a manufacturing process involving the shaping of metal using localized compression (physics), compressive forces. The blows are delivered with a hammer (often a power hammer) or a die (manufacturing), die. Forging is often classif ...

iron,MARTE
Rubén Martínez
/ref> which are sculpted in a range of abstract forms. Important pieces of the Salvadoran nation were made by him, among them the Monument of the Constitution (), the Monument of Peace (), and the sculptures of José Simeón Cañas, exhibited in the National Museum of art, and José Matías Delgado, located in the parque San José in

San Salvador San Salvador () is the Capital city, capital and the largest city of El Salvador and its San Salvador Department, eponymous department. It is the country's largest agglomeration, serving as the country's political, cultural, educational and fin ...

.Declaran “Notable Escultor de El Salvador” al Arquitecto Rubén Martínez Bulnes
/ref> He worked in gardening, painting, drawing,

landscaping Landscaping refers to any activity that modifies the visible features of an area of land, including the following: # Living elements, such as flora or fauna; or what is commonly called gardening, the art and craft of growing plants with a goal ...

, glass work, restoration, and music. His most important architectural work is the Iglesia El Rosario, located in the Historical Center of

. The church is in a modernist style with a European influence. Inside are some of his iron sculptures and glass work, as well as a symmetrical form which has no pillars so as to not create obstacles for the altar. Despite criticism for the structure's design, he received support from the

Dominicans Dominicans () also known as Quisqueyans () are an ethnic group, ethno-nationality, national people, a people of shared ancestry and culture, who have ancestral roots in the Dominican Republic. The Dominican ethnic group was born out of a fusio ...

who were in charge of the church. Other examples of his religious works are the templos del Perpetuo Socorro, la Transfiguración, and San José de la Montaña.

Death

Martínez Bulnes died on 17 July 2023, at the age of 94.Muere el arquitecto Rubén Martínez, creador de la iglesia El Rosario

Recognition

In November 2012 he was recognized as Notable sculptor of El Salvador by the Legislative Assembly. In April 2018 he was named Merited Son of San Salvador () by the Alcaldía of San Salvador in honor of his work.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Martinez Bulnes, Ruben 1929 births 2023 deaths People from San Salvador Salvadoran architects Salvadoran sculptors University of El Salvador alumni