It’s 10 AM, and people on my block leave their homes to try and find a solution to a wide range of problems, like they do everyday. Many of us have already got used to the reality that surrounds us, streets in a poor state, water leaks, garbage containers almost always overfilling with waste. It seems that the time comes when none of this affects us anymore.
Today, February 12th, I turn 46 years old and there’s no better way to give myself a gift than share with my dear readers the fifth video in my Vulgarmente Clasica (Vulgarly Classic) series. This is the second time that I voice my disent against Decree-Law 349, which distances artists, both independent and non-independent, from artistic creation with its list of violations.
Ever since the first time I was summoned to meet with two State Security agents, two months ago now, I promised myself that I wouldn’t disclose anything we talked about during that meeting, and that I would ignore everything they told me about what I shouldn’t be doing. They asked me not to publish anything on my social media, and that’s exactly what I did. But…
In this video, which forms a part of my series “Vulgarly Classic”, I wanted to show my disagreement with decree-law 349 that will now come into effect on December 7th and directly affect independent artists in Cuba. This law will stunt my creative process and that of many of other artists…
I was about to arrive at my destination, I had been traveling for 5 hours and I still thought sitting in the front seat of a taxi driving through a strange city was hard to believe. It was a 29-kilometer journey to the Sheraton Hotel. The driver had a neat and tidy appearance, and he seemed like a tour guide more than a driver because he answered every one of my questions…
Now that we are experiencing a moment of open dialogue, I feel like I am absolutely free to say what decree-law 349, which will come into effect in December, means for me and other artists. The problem with this decree is that it directly affects independent artists, including myself.
On August 16th, Madonna will turn 60 years old and here I am humbly publishing this video in her name, she most likely won’t even find out about it (I read somewhere that she doesn’t accept gifts from her fans), but I’ve made it to satisfy myself in some way or another.
This second piece of video art formed part of the third project I created for the Alternative Havana Biennial which took place in May. This time, I was lucky to have Czech-born artist and photographer (now living in the US), Sonia Domkarova, performing at the screening.
It’s pitiful and ridiculous that these evangelicals are using politics as an excuse and mention our historic leaders, who I understand were, and are, the ones who can manipulate our lives to their every whim and fancy.
This is a video art that I specifically conceived to participate in the recently concluded Alternative Havana Biennial. With Vulgarly Classic, I wanted to do something more intense and personal, and where, as in almost all my work, I am the center of attention.