PHASE 3: SANTO DOMINGO
Dario Suro was suddenly fired in 1947 by the government of Rafael Leonidas Trujillo. This abrupt, unexpected move happened at a time when he was enjoying great success in his artistic career and had established himself as a well-known personality in the Mexican cultural world, having received positive reviews for his exhibition at Bellas Artes and mentioned in society columns when he attended events as “the young Dominican painter”, etc. The details of his cancellation remained somewhat obscure but it was commented that he achieved too much success according to several people near the artist. It was widely thought that Trujillo would sometimes develop a certain jealousy when those working for him achieved success. In any case, the Suros returned to Santo Domingo “in disgrace” - “personas non gratas”. Some of his friends wanted to maintain a certain distance, as often happened if it were known that one was in disfavor with the Trujillo regime! However, a serendipitous occurrence changes Suro’s fate. His friend Jose Vasconcelos, the legendary Mexican cultural Ambassador arrives in Santo Domingo on an official mission and speaks very highly of Suro to Trujillo, focusing on his talent and cultural knowledge, and highly recommends that Suro be named National Director of Fine Arts. Trujillo takes the advice seriously and immediately names Suro to the recommended post, which he holds for two years. Once again Suro is celebrated, even by those who had recently avoided him and he continues to paint profusely, in addition to taking charge of his many duties as Director of Fine Arts. He organizes exhibitions, gives lectures, writes about Dominican Culture and receives important cultural figures and groups, like Alicia Markova and Anton Dolin, and “Los Coros y Danzas”, Spanish folk group, all part of his new busy life. Suddenly, something terrible happens, the most tragic moment of his life: his son, Jaime Agustin, born in Mexico and almost two years old, suddenly dies. His painting at this moment clearly reflects the anguish and pain of this tragic moment. This becomes an obsessive theme that haunts him for several years in his canvases that deal with the sad event. Some of these works are very dark, indeed, like the one of the father carrying the dead child. Another is full of color, with Jaime in the foreground, attending his own funeral surrounded by his “friends, keeping the darkness outside of the painting. This tragedy remains with Suro for the rest of his life. In spite of the overwhelming anguish, two events bring him a certain relief - the birth of his son Federico in 1948 and that of his daughter Rosa in 1949. He is named Cultural Attaché of the Dominican Republic to Madrid in 1949 which adds further relief to the sadness and changes his cultural outlook and style dramatically.
Padre con Niño Muerto, C. 1947
TERCERA ETAPA: SANTO DOMINGO
Suro fue despedido en el 1947 por el Gobierno de Rafael Leonidas Trujillo de una manera brusca - inesperada y sorprendente. En un momento que había logrado destacarse como una personalidad conocida en el mundo cultural Mexicano - recibió crónicas elogiosas en la prensa por la exitosa exposición en Bellas Artes e igualmente se hablaba de el en crónicas sociales Mexicanas - “el joven pintor Dominicano” etc. Los detalles de cancelación quedaron ofuscados pero se comentaba que había logrado demasiado éxito según varias personas, Trujillo se encelaba con el éxito de esos que trabajan para él. De todas maneras regresan a Santo Domingo en desgracia - “personas non gratas”. Una parte de sus amigos querían mantenerse a cierta distancia. Pero poco después llega a Santo Domingo su amigo, la eminencia Mexicana, José Vasconcelos, en un viaje oficial. No solamente visita a Suro, pero habla con Trujillo sobre Suro, enfocando en su talento y en su sabiduría, poniendo en relieve lo ideal que pudiera ser Dario Suro como Director Nacional de Bellas Artes. Trujillo toma el consejo en serio y casi en seguida nombra a Suro a dicho puesto, que realiza por dos años. De nuevo Suro está celebrado por esos que hacía poco lo habían ignorado. Sigue pintando y como Director de Bellas Artes le corresponde un gran número de deberes - preparar diversas exposiciones, dar charlas, recibir personalidades importantes del mundo cultural, etc. Entonces ocurre lo que fue el peor evento de su vida. Su hijo, Jaime Agustin, quien tenía apenas dos años y quien había nacido en Mexico, murió repentinamente! La pintura que realiza en ese momento refleja la angustia y el dolor que sufre Suro. Es un tema que le obsesiona por varios años en lienzos aparece el triste evento - algunos son oscuros, el padre cargando el cadaver de la criatura otros están llenos de color con el retrato de Jaime en primer plano y la oscuridad fuera de la obra. Esta tragedia se mantiene vigente hasta el resto de su vida! A pesar del dolor agobiante ocurren dos eventos que le ayudan a endulzar su vida - el nacimiento de su hijo Federico y el de su hija Rosa. Después de su cargo en Bellas Artes es nombrado Agregado Cultural en España y todo pasa por una mejoría general.