Fernando Botero's weighty works highlight this year's Festival del Centro Historico.

Fat may not be "in" in most western societies, but it sure hasn't hurt celebrated Colombian painter Fernando Botero, whose portly personages are the distinctive features of his paintings. Botero, probably Latin America's most renowned living artist, exhibits his work all over the world, from Madrid to New York to Japan. And now his paintings are coming to Mexico City in an extensive Botero exhibit to open March 20 at the Antiguo Colegio de San Ildefonso (Justo Sierra 16, right next to the Templo Mayor) as part of the city's I 17th annual Festival del Centro Historico. The exhibit is the first stop in an international tour celebrating Botero's 50 years as a painter. It is also the first retrospective of his work in Mexico City (there was one in Monterrey in 1998).

The works in the exhibit were chosen by Botero himself from his personal collection, and, unusually, he is also the show's curator. The exhibit will include 85 paintings, 35 sketches and 16 sculptures from his work between 1949 and 2000. Twenty of the pieces have never before been displayed publicly.

Dolores Beistegui, director of the San Ildefonso museum, says she thinks Botero is popular because his paintings are "pleasant and accessible" and don't require a lot of "work," like many modern art pieces.

"And he has a sense of humor," she adds.

Botero, who is 68, divides his time between Europe and New York, with a month-long sojourn at the Pacific beach resort of Zihuatanejo each year. He says his time in Mexico makes him feel "very Mexican." He rarely visits his native Colombia because of the widespread violence, but recently donated many works to a new museum in his native Medellin. In recent years, the troubles in Colombia have become the subject of some of his paintings.

Unlike some other contemporary painters, Botero makes himself accessible to the public and is expected to give a conference on March 22.

As for his corpulent characters, Botero says: "They don't seem that fat to me. In fact, I think they are quite slim."

The festival

The Festival del Centro Historico, a Mexico City celebration since 1985, starts this year on March 6 and ends March 31. It features a broad spectrum of cultural and artistic events in numerous locations around the city.

Concerts in the Z6calo have always been very popular, and this year the festival will include the popular African band Toure Kunda (March 18). Mexican bolero singer Armando Garzon (March 23), rock group Los Lobos (March 24). a folkloric dance group from Camaguey, Cuba (March 20), the Geneva Ballet (March 22), and Flamenco dancers from Andalusia (March 25 and 29), among other entertainers. The finale on March 31 will be a performance by the salsa band Cuba L.A.. whose recent CD has been highly praised.

As always, the festival is an eclectic mix with something to please everyone. Outdoor films will also be shown in the Zocalo daily at 7 p.m. from March 10 to 16. For those whose tastes tend toward the classical, check out Bellas Artes' planned classical music and opera performances. The Antiguo Colegio de San Ildefonso will offer a series of concerts featuring classical and modern music.

For complete festival listings, consult the website or call the phone numbers listed below. All events mentioned in this article should be confirmed in case of schedule changes.