When we speak of experimental and innovative jewelry in Cuba Osvaldo Castilla is an essential name. In his pieces design is more important than the material; the precious element is subordinated to the concept and aesthetics. Since his first exhibition in 1979, he revolutionized the way to conceive and make jewelry at home. Many of the samples are converted into real plastic actions where he makes a fusion of pieces´ design and performance. Models and dancers flaunt his creations together his kinetic sculptures that provide a more complex view of how this creator conceives goldsmith: the essence of his art is the movement.
Osvaldo is esoteric and astrologer. His pieces are the same. From the simplest ring to the more elaborate pendant they have the aura, the much imbued mysticism of their creator with the ancient philosophies and ancient cultures. That entire heritage is present in his works. The pieces of this master have souls. They are original jewelry bearing the good vibrations of the creator as energy amulets that will never go out of style.
Irreverence, risk, and abstraction are basic ingredients of these works transiting manual craftsmanship to the most sophisticated jewelry.
Castilla is one of the great masters of Cuban jewelry. Together with José Rafart he was founder of the Cuban contemporary jewelry. He burst into the Cuban visual arts in the seventies with a very sui generis proposal, different to what was done in those years. His pieces are very contemporary, as abstract and exotic dominate them. His favorite material is silver, but has bowed to other metals that have appeared fused to various elements in his different creative periods.
From an experimental and transgressive perspective he moves between gimped, corrugated surfaces, textures and volumes in line with gems, seashells, precious woods, bones, among other natural elements. He has vast experience gained during dissimilar awards both inside and outside of Cuba. His sculptural work is in major corporate and private collections like his jewels, preferred by many.
“That some of my pieces are moving does not mean that the movement is all that matters in my work, there are other static”, says Castilla. “Another concern of my pieces refers to the scale, the size, for a sculpture should not be appreciated only for its size but for its aesthetic value and design. I began to be very interested in two lines of jewelry that fascinated me: the North African which has many elements that move and the Nordic countries with their Viking and Celtic peoples. I have been interested in these cultures not only for the studies I have done but for the affinity I have always had for those civilizations”.
If you had to label or define your work how would you do it?
“I’m Cuban and as a Cuban I’m baroque, my work is guided by eclecticism. Now I am in a calmer point of my work, was previously more vibrant and more anarchic. I am more calm because I went my way and solutions found within my own style. On the other hand, I still have many things to do and I feel an urgent need to create and study each day. There are artists that influence me much like Miró, Lam and Gaudí. I’m a little all while I am me; humans are a wealth of experience and our creations too.”
