La Jornada: Light for Cuba, a series that expands the traditional solidarity with the island

Sixteen Mexican artists gathered their lines in the engravings folder Light for Cuba, whose sale will be used to support the energy, food and health needs faced by the island’s population.

The collection brings together works by Coral Revueltas, Rafael Barajas The SnooperPatricia Soriano, Damián Ortega and 12 other artists, in an initiative that seeks to vindicate the cultural and historical ties between Mexico and the Caribbean country.

The Snooper He highlighted that the portfolio is part of a long tradition of committed art in Mexico that has antecedents since the 19th century and was strengthened during the Mexican Revolution with muralism, the Taller de Gráfica Popular and estridentismo, among other movements.

“This work takes up this tradition and becomes an act of solidarity with the island; the intention is to raise money in order to buy solar panels for educational establishments and hospitals,” said the cartoonist of The Day during the presentation of the folder at Casa Tabasco, in Mexico City, where he recognized that the situation in Cuba is an emergency.

He mentioned that the island has had oil supply problems for months, which has repercussions on the daily life of the population, as well as on hospital and educational services.

In this context, he considered that the main alternative that Cuba has is international solidarity. “Mexico has an old tradition of solidarity with Cuba,” mentioned the monero and recalled the historical ties between both countries, including the stay of José Martí and Fidel Castro in Mexico.

The folder highlights engravings such as that of Coral Revueltas, which with undulating and concentric lines evokes a topographic map in which Mexico and Cuba are outlined, or that of The Snooperwhere a music and dance scene appears surrounded by tropical vegetation.

Others of a political nature also stand out, such as that of Damián Ortega, in which the face of Donald Trump, the United States flag, grenades and rifles can be seen on a small island in Cuba. Under the title The new imperialismthe piece is considered a paraphrase of the engraver Leopoldo Méndez, who dedicated a good part of his work to anti-fascism.

Gustavo Monroy, another of the participating artists, emphasized that the name of the collection is a response to the dark times that the Cuban people are going through. “Faced with this, let us reflect on the words that bring light: empathy, solidarity, compassion.”

For Coral Revueltas, integrating this portfolio was natural, since art is one of the areas in which there is the greatest exchange between Cuba and Mexico. “From this trench we experience permanent feedback with Cuba, through the metal workshop in Havana and the engraving workshops in Cienfuegos.”

The artists also highlighted the exchanges that occur between new generations through film biennials, poster and graphic design festivals that are held in both Havana and Mexico, with the presence of representatives from both countries.

Fernando Gálvez, director of the engraving workshop at the Los Pinos Cultural Complex, where the works were printed with the support of Jorge Rubio, explained that “each of the creators freely expressed their position, some from a more poetic perspective, others more political, some more ideological and others more subjective or symbolic. The aesthetic positions represented speak to the fact that there is a consensus in the visual arts community in favor of this situation being transformed into the well-being of the Cuban people, what we all really want.”

Patricia Soriano considered that this set of works “is an embrace of light, a desire for justice for Cuba. It makes me very happy to be part of this group of voices that demand justice, that artists and all human beings in Cuba enjoy a dignified life and enjoy the love that light gives.”

The plastic artist Carlos Pellicer López thanked the participants and announced that they are already working on a second edition, in which, he said, he will incorporate some of his own works and will invite other artists to join.

Meanwhile, he noted that there are 100 folders of Light for Cubawith works by 16 artists, available for purchase at a price of 20 thousand pesos.

To acquire them, those interested must deposit the money in the account of the Humanity with Latin America association (1358451779, with interbank code 072180013584517792) and the proof of payment must be sent to [email protected]. The delivery points will be Casa Tabasco, the Rosario Castellanos bookstore of the Economic Culture Fund and the engraving workshop of the Los Pinos Cultural Complex.

The engravings that make up Light for Cuba They will be presented to the public tomorrow at 7 p.m. at the Casa Tabasco in México Carlos Pellicer (Berlín 33, Colonia Juárez, Mexico City).