The landscape in Havana, Cuba’s capital city, tells two different stories: the first paints a picture of candy-colored buildings and sidewalk salsa dancing; the second shows crumbling facades and a glimpse of the city’s scars after two independence wars, a US trade embargo and 50 years of strained foreign relations. Despite this juxtaposition of beauty and destruction, one thing remains: this city feels incredibly alive. On …
At LA’s Over The Influence, artist and designer Ron Arad is showcasing his knack for working with metals. His show CUBA Working Title (on now through 28 October) centers on cars crushed like pressed flowers—hulking machines reduced to 12-centimeter-thick sheets of metal. The concept was inspired by American cars in Cuba and the intertwining of their histories, from geographic and design (and even political) perspectives. Fantastically maintaining the integrity of …
Insufficient internet access and lack of equipment have not prevented some animators from continuing their filmic work after graduating art school in Cuba. From pirated software to technical improvisation, animated films have slowly appeared throughout the nation. It wasn’t until 2014 that a (state-sponsored) feature-length animated film, “Meñique,” would appear. And yet now, companies like El Muke and ÑOOo Productions have work seen as far …
