San Ignacio 22, esq. Stoned, Havana, Cuba
Founded in 1983, The Wifredo Lam Center of Contemporary Art is an incredible cultural institution located in the north-west corner of the Plaza de la Catedral in Old Havana. Occupying the 18th-century Casa de los Condes de Peñalver, the building houses a beautiful museum with much to offer, including, a café, a library, several galleries, and an interior courtyard. The center is dedicated to the study, research, and promotion of contemporary visual arts from developing countries in the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The Center of Contemporary Art harbors an extensive, impressive, and valuable collection of artworks, some contemporary and some old fashion, this collection allows the exhibit to show the works of artists from different regions in Cuba and overseas.
With this pursuit in mind, the center is an elegant homage to the legendary Cuban artist, Wifredo Lam. Known as the ‘Cuban Picasso,’ Lam's artwork primarily consisted of larger scale oil paintings, that had a direct reference to the modernist aesthetics of international art, juxtaposed alongside deeply rooted Afro-Cuban imagery. Lam once said, “My grief deprived me of all enthusiasm for life.” Utilizing this grief, Lam explored themes that he encountered daily, themes like sadness, spirituality, social injustice, and rebirth.
The Center of Contemporary Arts main project is The Havana Biennial, Cubas international art fair. Established in 1984, The Havana Biennial’s first incarnation was dedicated to artists from nearby nations, like Latin America and the Caribbean. After the second session of The Havana Biennial in 1986, artists ranging from Africa, to Asia, to the Middle East were exhibited. The Biennial is now a household name and tradition, turning Havana into a crucial venue for the exhibition of non-Western art and artists, as well as helping put Cuban art on a pedestal for more cultures to see. Renowned critics of international acclaim, collectors, museum directors, and art magazine editors meet and exchange ideas in Havana for the Biennial. Focusing its attention on the artists from the South hemisphere whose works tend to attempt the representation of conflict, The Havana Biennial is an important event that is giving a voice to the voiceless.
Executive Coordinator of The Havana Biennial, Rafal Niemojewski, said the following in regards to the art fest and the Center of Contemporary Art, “Issues like the existing tensions between tradition and contemporariness, the challenge to the historical colonization processes, relations between art and society, the individual and his/her memory, human communication in the face of technological development and the dynamics of urban culture have been topics of particular interest in the Biennial, without distinction among the multiple forms of visuality that operate in culture as a system.”
Questions:
Is the main mission of art events like The Havana Biennial to ensure the reflection of Cubas art scene?
Many of Cubas most known works of art are said to be influenced by the oppression of the artist, do you agree?
Hello! I really like your last question. "Many of Cubas most known works of art are said to be influenced by the oppression of the artist, do you agree?". I completely agree with that statement. Artists like YulierRodriguez create work that is based on the oppression that the Cuban people have faced by their government. YulierRodriguez creates abstract art on pieces of broken building and then putting it back where he found them. They symbolize what the government has put the people through. There are many other artists that create abstract art that symbolizes the oppression of art/artists by the government. Art reflects the artist and what they have experienced, so it is logical that because the Cuba government has oppressed art/artists that, that would influence the oppressed artists’ work.
ReplyDeleteVery well written blog! I really enjoyed the clear and concise explanation of the Havana Biennial. I think it is clear that the Havana Biennial serves as an event in which artists connect, collaborate, and exchange ideas. To me it appears the event ensures the appreciation of art in Cuba but I'm not sure so much the reflection. It seems like an event to drive art forward and create new ideas rather than look at past idea and reflect on them. That being said it gives lots of artists a voice and a chance to share. I think this is invaluable in such an art rich culture. Many artists focus their inner struggles in to positive arts such as painting and sculpting. I think it is a way for oppressed cubans to escape reality and let out unwanted feeling through the mechanism of art!
ReplyDeleteI found the mention of Wifredo being referred as "Cuban Picasso" to be very interesting as Picasso's art styles played a major influence in the art in society during his time and in the future.
ReplyDeleteWilfredo Lam was my favorite artist that we have learned about so far. I loved seeing his abstract work and hope we get to see some of his pieces in person. The Havana Biennial is critical to both reflecting Cuba's art scene and giving talented artists exposure, which is why its cancelation a few years ago was such a big deal.
ReplyDelete