What Makes Cuban Art so Valuable?

Over the past 100 years, the techniques and styles of Cuban artwork has evolved in many different ways. One factor that remained the same, however, was the invaluable influence that it has when considering the culture of Cuba as a whole. In the early 20th century following Cuba achieving its independence from Spain, artists known as the Vanguardia set the tone for surrealist artwork to come. Due to the censorship enforced by the government at the time, artists were not given complete artistic freedom. This drove many artists out of the country to pursue their own individual interests. Those who stayed in Cuba not only turned out to be very successful, but they were responsible for the impact that Cuban art has on their own culture as well as international culture. When acknowledging the accomplishments that have been made over recent years, it is crucial to understand what made art so valuable and necessary for their country.

One initial reason for Cuban art being so valuable is the diverse cultural upbringing of Cuban artists. 20th century artwork in addition to modern artwork in Cuba contains a blend of African, European, South American and North American culture/influence, producing a truly unique style of art. Local artists shared ideas with each other that stuck with their family intergenerationally. By combining ideas of various cultures, Cuban art was seen as ahead of its time once it rose to fame in the mid-20th century.

Another explanation for why Cuban art was so valuable and unique is that there was very little influence from new artwork in other countries at the time. Due to Cuba being cut off by others from the trade embargo as well as other failed relations, they were not in close contact with other nations, especially after the Soviet Union turned away in the late 20th century. This means that Cuban art, for the most part, was as unique as it could get. While their art was influenced by the history of their many diverse cultures, the evolution of modern art in their country was achieved by the country of Cuba alone.

Finally, the investment in modern art made by the Cuban government has greatly influenced their success in this field. Artists all across Cuba were regarded highly by the people, and for good reasons. Thanks to sponsorships made by the government, artists had plenty of funding for their work. Efforts have been made by the Cuban government to encourage international trade of their art as well. As their economy was going through tough times in the 90's, government officials allowed more freedom in artist's expression of their work. They realized that their art was not only valuable to their culture, but to their economy too. In 1991, the United States legalized the sale and importation of Cuban art, which allowed larger opportunities for trade. Also, the 1990 purchase of a large portion of the "Kuba OK" exhibition by a German collector created more opportunities for trade partners, as Cuban artwork received more recognition and demand in other European countries. 

Because of the uniqueness and meaningful components of Cuban artwork, it will be regarded as a valuable piece of Cuba's economy and culture. One question I have is: How much different would Cuban art be today if Cuban artists were given more freedom in their expression of art earlier? Also: What does it take to become a successful and renowned artist in a country that places so much importance on their art?