Cuban Art at Montreal Museum
¡Cuba! Art and History Exhibit Covers Art from 1868 to Today
Apr 19, 2008
The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is showcasing Cuban art and history from 1868 to modern times. Divided into five sections, the exhibition features important epochs in Cuban art, including “Depicting Cuba” (1868-1927), “Arte Nuevo” (1927-1938), “Cubanness” (1938-1959), “Within the Revolution” (1959-1979), and “The Revolution and Me” (1979-2007).
A Brief History Lesson
To embark on this colourful journey, visitors are introduced to integral historical events, such as the creation of the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes in Havana in 1913; the Arte Nuevo exhibit in 1927, which marked the beginning of modern Cuban art, and the opening of the Superior Institute of Art in Havana in 1976.
Early Notable Works
Since Cuba’s independence from Spain in 1868, its artists have been inspired by their people’s plight. An example is Leopoldo Romañach, who explored the theme of the slave trade and sugar cane workers in “La Niña de las cañas/Girl of the sugar cane”. The affirmation of a national identity began with the depiction of nature and the Cuban seashore; in fact early landscape artists like Esteban Chartrand were inspired by French Romantic painting and combined these elements to the realism of Cuban landscapes in “Paisaje con Rio” in 1877.
Another known form of expression is costumbrismo, which illustrates daily Cuban life by satirizing social types and depicting local rural and urban customs. The genre’s most prolific artist was Victor Landaluze, who provided works of great artistic quality such as “El Mistico del Angel” and “Carnaval”; these both display Cuba’s Creole and Native folklore.
What is Arte Nuevo?
Composed of poets, writers and musicians Arte Nuevo was a catalyst for young artists in the 1920s with fresh ideas and who longed to subvert traditional academic art that ruled the Cuban cultural scene. From this new school of thought emerged criollismo, a movement where avant-garde artists re-interpreted Afro-Cuban art by legitimizing this culture as an essential part of the national heritage. Arte Nuevo also approached more delicate subjects such as unemployment and the strife of the working class in Alberto Peña and Jorge Arche’s works.
An Artist to Discover
An incredible writer, draftsman and essayist, Marcel Pogolotti was another important figure in Arte Nuevo. His style combined Futurism, machine art and surrealistic aesthetics and his themes often include capitalism and its ravaging effects on human life and morale; surely his collection refutes any preconceived notions about Cuban art being light and joyful with its insightful, yet sombre images.
A Must-See Exposition
Already a great success among Montreal’s art enthusiasts ¡Cuba! Art is only featured until June 8, 2008. Allow yourself the pleasure of discovering Cuba’s vast spectrum of masterpieces and artistic figures by visiting this exquisite exhibition. Without a doubt this is a unique visual experience guaranteed to invigorate your senses.
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