Hello dear Hive community!
During my stroll to Bab Al Bahr square, which I mentioned in my last post, I came across the Tangier Museum of Contemporary Art. Located in the former Kasbah prison, I was immediately captivated by its unique architecture. Its beautifully rehabilitated walls and spaces create an atmosphere that is both mysterious and inspiring, and it's a truly perfect place to welcome art in all its forms.
I was lucky enough to come across an exhibition of modern Cuban art. I say ‘lucky’ because I love Cuba! The country fascinates me with its nature, culture and history.
BOUNDLESS TERRITORIES
Contemporary art from Cuba and its diasporas refers to the work produced between the last two decades of the 20th century and today. It marks a space of continuous and interwoven research and renewal. One of the most radical shifts in this production was led by a group of artists brought together in the exhibition Volumen I in 1981, along with other groups, collectives, projects, and independent producers. Inspired by the most advanced artistic currents of that time, they introduced new ways of making and understanding art through a socio-anthropological and critical perspective, with a post-conceptual affiliation.
In the 1990s, young graduates, particularly from art schools, gave new impetus to the artistic constants of the previous period. Moving away from past intentions, they redefined this legacy using different references. By drawing on the "recovery of aesthetic tradition" or the "craft of art," they developed a modern language characterized by technical mastery and the use of metaphor, yet still imbued with a similar spirit of questioning and sharp observation.
Today, however, there is no single dominant orientation in Cuban art. Artists within Cuba and those dispersed across its diasporas operate in an open and expansive field, within a hybrid space of interests where anything is possible. Thus, at the core of these territories lie creators and artistic commitments with no restrictions or limits regarding art and its time. The context of the exhibition highlights some recurring themes and issues: formal, expressive, conceptual, and linguistic poetics serve as artistic strategies. Some artists assume referential positions in dialogue with the Cuban landscape and notions of the island and "Cuba" as objects, while others engage with these concepts through their own lived experiences and artistic production. In both cases, they support this expression while simultaneously extending it to thematic and symbolic interdependencies rooted in universal sources or global signs.
Jose Manuel Noceda Fernandez
Exhibition Curator
In fact, I'd love to visit Cuba one day. Walking around the exhibition, I was amazed by the bright colours, the geometric shapes and all the details that showed the richness of Cuban culture. It was like travelling without moving!
Each painting told something: a story, a revolt, an explosion of creativity. I especially liked the paintings that mixed abstract forms with more recognisable elements. They gave free rein to the imagination, and everyone could see something different in them.
Unfortunately, my visit wasn't perfect. I had a really unpleasant experience. While I was walking around on the first floor, one of the museum guards behaved inappropriately. It reminded me that, even in a developing country and in a place dedicated to art and culture, certain prejudices still exist. It's a shame that such a pleasant moment was ruined by this kind of attitude. I sincerely hope that the museum management will do what is necessary to ensure that all visitors can enjoy the exhibition in a respectful and safe environment.
Another minor problem I encountered during my visit was the ban on taking photographs. One of the guards immediately told me no, it would be impossible to capture any memories of the exhibition. I tried to talk to him, and after a long discussion, he finally agreed, but with some rules: no videos and no flash photography. Fortunately, this guard was the only one who was so strict. As for the others, they were very friendly and welcoming (especially those up on the first floor of the museum), which made my visit more pleasant despite this little setback.
Despite the minor problems I encountered, this visit remains a wonderful memory for me. I was fascinated by the wealth of Cuban art on display and the charm of the building's architecture. I really recommend this museum to anyone who loves art and history! But of course you have to be careful, because some people's behaviour can spoil the work of those who go out of their way to provide a great experience for tourists and visitors in general.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this! I hope you enjoyed the photos as much as I enjoyed taking them. If you have any impressions or thoughts to share, please feel free to leave a comment, I really want to know what you thought! And if you like what I'm doing, I'd be super grateful if you'd share! It helps me enormously and encourages me to continue discovering and introducing you to the fascinating places in my country. Many thanks again and I'll see you very soon for new discoveries to share with you!
Photos taken by mobile phone (Samsung Galaxy A04s) !
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You have successfully visited a very beautiful place my brother♥️🙏
Travel Digest #2473.
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Hiya, @ybanezkim26 here, just swinging by to let you know that this post made it into our Honorable Mentions in Your post has been manually curated by the @worldmappin team. If you like what we're doing, please drop by to check out all the rest of today's great posts and consider supporting other authors like yourself and us so we can keep the project going!The beauty of the museum is very amazing, I Seesome photos of the scenery in a very beautiful season ❤️