Can you imagine a fluorescent Havana? A city full of holographs and transparencies? That is the vision of the Mexican artist Mariana Cabello, who is presently visiting the Island in order to gather material for her next exhibition.
“The project is funded by the KU Fund, of the the Swedish government, which supports artistic research. They understand this classification as the act of researching a topic from artistic exercise. In this case, the focus of my work is Cuban literature of science fiction, “Cabello told OnCuba exclusively.
“I was interested from the start in Cuban science fiction because I find it a land full of contrasts. The plastic Havana has certain colors, certain shades, while the imagination of science fiction that is written here is completely different: there is a strong contrast between the written and the reality. Making the intersection of these two worlds seems exciting. How science fiction causes other materiality? The original idea comes from that intersection. “
The Mexican bases her work on the works of Cuban writers Michel Encinosa (Gods of neon, neon Children) and Erick Mota (Havana Underwater), both known in the literary world of the island, while the young Enzo Hernandez currently writes his first novel: the loop and the trap. The three authors share the common denominator of their texts making a reference to Havana, more or less explicitly.
“As an artist, I am very interested on the exercises writers do to install their ideas in space. They see the city as a canvas, practice the exercise of installment. Instead of making a traditional interview, I read his novels and give them a plastic treatment: do a piece, or intervention. I am also interested in the relationship of the part with the environment in which I exhibit, “Cabello, who graduated in architecture in her native country, said.
Besides the three installations she placed in the city, the artist included in her project’s testimony important figures of Cuban culture. Yoss, one of the most prestigious science fiction authors of the island, spoke on the pieces made, and the literary works in which the artist drew. Another was Desiderio Navarro, “who has a completely external perspective of the science fiction genre, but at the same time a very interesting view of the city and the changes that are happening in it,” the girl said.
Until April 2014 all she exhibits will be new material. According to what the interviewee told OnCuba now she must return to Sweden with all the information to edit and redesign the project. The expo will take place at Konstfack University, Stockholm, where she received a master degree in Arts before embarking on this project.
“The exhibition will be in Stockholm because the sponsors are there, but it might be interesting to do it here. But on the other hand, many things that we have investigated I do not think that can be displayed. We have met with much secrecy, fragility, everything is very tense. Whereas if I say in Sweden, there is no problem, because that is the reality of many third world countries. The present issue is very delicate here, is on the table for discussion. I’m considering the possibility of making a version to present in Cuba, without affecting people who kindly gave me their support. “
“The sponsors were interested in the subject. I am working on a Nordic artistic research system, but at the same time, I grew up in Mexico, so I understand the idiosyncrasies of Latin America. I can translate for them, in the most general sense of translation, the Cuban reality. Also, I know my position is very questionable, since I’m Mexican and not Cuban. But are the risks that an artist has to take, “she told OnCuba.
