Visual arts shape Havana's urban landscape

World
Europe

This month, Havana is hosting the 13th Havana Biennial — Cuba's most important visual arts festival. The event draws artists from Cuba and around the world.

Sculptures, paintings, installations and performances are commonplace in Havana this month. More than 200 artists from Cuba and nearly 50 countries have turned the Cuban capital and its popular seafront boulevard into a giant art gallery.

Artworks along Havana´s Seafront Boulevard. /CGTN Photo

A major attraction this year is a collection of contemporary art by young Chinese artists who are representing the Asian nation for the first time at the visual arts festival.

CGTN met the Chinese creators as they set up their exhibit. “I'm very interested in seeing the reaction of the Cuban people. This is the first time that we bring contemporary Chinese art to Cuba and I'm anxious to see the expressions and reactions of those who visit the exhibit,” said artist Zhong Biao.

Meanwhile Chinese curator and art critic Huang Du noted that “I know that Cuban contemporary art is very strong in the world. So, this time we'd like to promote Chinese contemporary art in Cuba to establish an exchange, a relationship between China and Cuba.”

Chinese ambassador Chen Xi at the exhibit. /CGTN Photo‍

The Chinese exhibit opened with a large attendance including Cuban culture officials and China´s ambassador to Havana, Chen Xi.

The event is themed “The Construction of the Possible” and is dedicated to the city´s 500th birthday this year. For the first time, the event also extends to other Cuban provinces.

Yunisky Guerra festival attendee with his child. /CGTN Photo

For lawyer Yunisky Guerra, he brought his family here so that they can learn how to interpret the works of art.