Page 33 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Cuba

A POR TR AIT OF CUBA  31

Raúl Martínez (1927–95)
and Guido Llinás were
leading exponents of the
abstract art movement
that came to the fore
in the 1950s–60s and later
adopted the Pop Art style
in representions of current-
day heroes, as exemplified
by Island 70 (1970) by Raúl
Martínez, seen here.
Alfredo Sosabravo (b. 1930) – a painter, illustrator, engraver and
potter – tackles the themes of nature, man and machines with an
ironic twist. A leading figure, he has been active since the 1960s,
together with Servando Cabrera Moreno, a Neo-Expressionist,
Antonia Eiriz, a figurative artist, and Manuel Mendive, whose
subject is Cuba’s African heritage.

Flora Fong (b. 1949) –
along with Ever Fonseca,
Nelson Domínguez,
Pedro Pablo Oliva, Tomás
Sánchez and Roberto
Fabelo – represents a
strand of 1970s painting,
which tended towards
abstraction without quite
losing sight of objective
reality. Her Dimensiones
del Espejo is seen here.
Graphic Art Ceramics
Graphic design, which first flourished during the In 1950, the Cuban ceramicist
colonial period, when it was used in the sugar and and former physician Juan Miguel
tobacco industries, with time became an independent Rodríguez de la
art form, with the creation of prestigious periodicals Cruz brought
such as Social. During the 20th century the growing together a
importance of marketing produced different types of group of
graphic art. In the 1960s, in the wake of the enthusiasm leading
for the victorious painters,
Revolution, well- including
designed graphic Wifredo Lam,
posters became a René Porto-
natural part of the carrero and Amelia
main political and Decorated plate, Havana Peláez, in Santiago
cultural campaigns, Ceramics Museum de las Vegas, near
and designs became Havana, so that
ever more sophisticated. they could all work on ceramic designs.
Use of graphic art is This marked the beginning of a new
still very visible in artistic genre in Cuba that today ranges
Cuba’s towns and cities from crockery to sculpture, and also
and at the roadside all includes installations and works for
over the island.
home interiors. Wonderful examples
Poster by Alfonso Prieto for of Cuban ceramics can be found in
July 26 celebrations the Hotel Habana Libre (see p102).

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