Havana Biennial: Art or Decay in the Ruins of the Malecón?

The XV Havana Biennial, inaugurated on November 15, 2024, has sparked intense controversy among artists, citizens, and observers on social media.

This event, which traditionally celebrates the wealth of Cuban and international contemporary art, is taking place this year in a context of economic and social crisis that intensifies criticism of its execution.

With a visibly deteriorated Malecón and crumbling buildings as a backdrop, this year's Biennial has been described by independent artists as a display of "conceptual and technical mediocrity."

Many believe that the location does not highlight the works, but instead underscores the country's crisis. “It is the iconography of the total devastation of a country,” commented one of the artists to CiberCuba.

The cultural event, which will run until February 2025, has been seen as an attempt by the authorities to project an image of normalcy and progress to the outside world, in stark contrast to the everyday reality experienced by most Cubans.

This has been described by social media users as "another smokescreen to cover up the reality we live in."

Social media as a megaphone for discontent

Outrage has flooded social media, where Cubans express their frustration over what they see as a misuse of resources in a time of great need.

A video published on CiberCuba sparked a wave of comments from Cubans outraged by the celebration of an event that was more propagandistic than cultural.

"Exactly what the community needed," stated a user, criticizing the authorities' indifference to the basic needs of the population.

“And when will there be food and medicine?” asked another. “While art flourishes, the people wither,” reflected a third.

"Art is important, but it cannot be a priority amid so much need"; "Bread and circus for the people, but without bread"; "How long will they continue to ignore the true needs of the people?" others pointed out.

"Another smokescreen to cover up the reality we live in"; "How much did this Biennial cost and how many families could have been helped with that money?"; "Culture is essential, but not at the expense of people's suffering," expressed other internet users.

The general consensus in the comments on CiberCuba's post is that the celebration of the XV Biennial of Havana is "another example of the total disconnection between the government and its people."

Criticism from the artistic community

Independent artists have been particularly critical of the Biennial. In communication with this outlet, they denounce the lack of coherence between the exhibited works and the urban context in which they are placed, describing many of them as lacking purpose and quality.

This is compounded by criticism regarding how art, instead of being a tool to denounce the country’s situation, is used to beautify a landscape of decay.

Art or distraction?

The situation in Cuba in 2024 is critical: constant blackouts, lack of basic food supplies, under-resourced hospitals, and a massive exodus of its population.

In light of this situation, the Biennial is viewed as an attempt by cultural authorities to divert public attention. "Art is a means for reflection, but it cannot be an excuse to ignore the crisis," commented one observer on social media.

Although some argue that art should flourish even in the face of adversity, for many, the XV Biennial of Havana is not an event that inspires hope or resilience, but rather a painful reminder of the Cuban government's misaligned priorities.

The Biennial has shifted from being a celebration of creativity to becoming a mirror that reflects the ruins of a nation that, according to the voices of its people, "is at war, but without bombs."

Frequently Asked Questions about the XV Havana Biennial and Its Social Context