artist statement

I left Cuba when I was nine years old, and this has influenced me in creating these paintings. What I remember of Cuba comes from old black and white photographs and my memory. I have not been back to my homeland since 1980. The only way I have seen the Cuba of today has been through images from the internet. Just like photographs get old and fade, these memories will also one day disappear. 

My artwork is figurative with a strong sense of narration. My paintings incorporate overlapping components of different size papers, canvas pieces, fabric, and wood. The process reminds me of old clothes and objects patched up and utilized, instead of discarding them.  The act of collaging or painting on top of other images is symbolic of how our lives are shaped by so many things. The black and white images have been painted on top of other images.  My work has layers upon layers of images and colors. I was inspired by urban walls that are graffitied and buffed to be graffitied again and again. The backgrounds of my paintings are filled with holes, peeling paint, cracks, and different shades of gray and white, a reminder of weathered walls. The distressed walls show pain and abandonment. Some of the images are detailed, while other images are barely recognizable. The images are a recollection of experiences, people, places, and things.