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The Casa del Tiempo gallery at the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM) in Mexico City inaugurated the group exhibition "We Are Not Memory" on Friday, showcasing works by twelve Cuban and Nicaraguan artists.
This event aims to build bridges between the artistic expressions of both countries, whose authoritarian regimes have profoundly influenced the cultural and political landscape, according to a post on the Facebook profile of independent artist and political prisoner Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara.
The exhibition, curated by Cuban artist and anthropologist Celia González, addresses issues of human rights and socio-political contexts from a critical and process-oriented perspective.
Among the pieces, the performance "¿Dónde está Mella?" (2017) by Otero Alcántara stands out, accompanied by works from other notable creators such as Camila Lobón, Hamlet Lavastida, Alejandro Alonso, and Juan Sí González, among others, the post notes.
The project proposes a dialogue among artists who, from their respective realities, denounce the divisions and totalitarian ambitions of the governments of Cuba and Nicaragua. According to González, the curation also serves as an ethnographic tool, exploring how non-human alterities and transnational connections can enrich civic struggles, as cited by the cultural magazine Rialta.
"No somos memoria" seeks to highlight how artists create connections rooted in mutual curiosity and the desire to overcome the divisions imposed by regimes that restrict freedom of expression in both countries," González explained in an interview with the publication mentioned.
The project was made possible thanks to the collective effort of the Museography team at UAM and the support of figures such as Yissel Arce and Henry Eric Hernández.
The exhibition not only brings to light the human rights crises in Cuba and Nicaragua, but it also serves as a space for cultural resistance and solidarity.
Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara has been imprisoned since the anti-government protests on July 11, 2021. In 2017, when the boutiques at the Manzana Kempinski hotel shopping center in Havana were inaugurated, the artist held a performance critiquing the regime for having removed the bust of Julio Antonio Mella, which had been in the gallery since 1965.
During his performance, transformed into a living statue representing the figure of Julio Antonio, Otero sought to denounce the disrespect with which a work that has been part of the venue and the cultural heritage for decades has been treated.
The capital's police attempted to sabotage the artist's performance. First, the authorities claimed that the location where the event was taking place, the arcade of the block, was private property belonging to the hotel and not a public space.
Frequently Asked Questions about the exhibition "We Are Not Memory" and Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara
What is the exhibition "We Are Not Memory" and what is its purpose?
"We Are Not Memory" is a collective exhibition that opened at the Casa del Tiempo gallery of the Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM) in Mexico City. The show brings together works by twelve Cuban and Nicaraguan artists and aims to create connections between the artistic expressions of both countries, critiquing the divisions and totalitarian aspirations of the governments of Cuba and Nicaragua from a critical and process-oriented perspective.
Who is Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara and what is his role in the exhibition?
Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara is an independent artist and political prisoner from Cuba, recognized for his activism in defense of human rights and freedom of expression in the country. In the exhibition "We Are Not Memory," his performance "Where is Mella?" (2017) is showcased, which critiques the removal of a bust of Julio Antonio Mella in Havana, symbolizing the regime's disrespect for cultural heritage. This work is part of the denunciation against the restrictions on artistic freedom imposed by the Cuban government.
What is the current context of Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara and his impact on Cuban art?
Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara has been imprisoned since the anti-government protests on July 11, 2021, serving a five-year sentence for "public disorder" and "disobedience." His case exemplifies the repression faced by artists in Cuba, who endure severe restrictions on freedom of expression. Despite his imprisonment, Otero remains a symbolic figure of resistance, using his art to challenge the Cuban regime and raise awareness about human rights.
How has the Cuban regime influenced the work of the artists featured in the exhibition?
The Cuban regime has had a significant impact on the work of the artists featured in the exhibition "We Are Not Memory," who use their creations to denounce restrictions on freedom of expression and human rights in their countries. The exhibition fosters a critical dialogue about the divisions imposed by authoritarian governments, utilizing art as a tool for resistance and solidarity among artists from Cuba and Nicaragua.
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