The 12th Biennial of Contemporary Art in Havana has been held since May 22nd. More than 300 Cuban and foreign artists exhibit their works in the streets of the Cuban capital, both in the neighborhoods of La Habana Vieja and in Centro Habana, on the Malecón-the famous avenue on the city's seashore-or in the Plaza de la Revolución. But it is in the San Carlos de la Cabaña-a superb fortress built by the Spaniards in the 18th century-that the greatest number of works are concentrated in artists' studios set up there for the occasion. This concentration of works in this historical site of Havana has been named "Zona Franca" since it is, in a way, a free zone reserved for art. It is precisely here that certain works have particularly appealed to us for their originality. The work of Rolando Vasquez, for example, is truly amazing and successful. He is inspired by the ceremonies of one of the currents of the Afro-Cuban religion, the Palo Monte, to draw blindly with a candle, shapes produced by smoke on small plates. Originally, the drawings thus obtained would be the expression of a message from the Afro-Cuban gods, or ancestors, intended for the person who comes to consult the priest of Palo Monte... We were able to ask the artist to make some drawings of this kind for us live and he makes them on request to anyone interested in his art. An unusual experience meant to reveal your future or near past (it worked for us!) but also a real artistic approach
Another artist to discover: Michel Mirabal. Through various paintings, he approaches with amusement the warming of diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States
You will get a taste of this very interesting biennial through our slideshow. And if you're going to Cuba soon, don't miss the opportunity to discover these works during your visit to Havana. It's until June 22nd!
More information on the biennial
