Some 30 artworks by 28 Cuban outstanding artists are part of a tribute exhibition to celebrate 40 years of the Havana Art Biennal, the most representative visual arts event in Cuba. This exhibition will be opened to the public until February, 2025 at the exhibition center located on Linea and 18 Streets, in Vedado, Havana.

The artists participating in this exhibition have been taken part of other previous editions of the Havana Art Biennal. Due to the artists’s numerous way of creating art y beacuse of the diversity of the artistic expressions of the Cuban contemporary art, it is about an heterogeneous exhibition, said Nelson Herrera Ysla, the curator of this exhibit.

Nelson Herrera noted that some of these Cuban prominent artists have been awarded in previous editions. They are Manuel Mendive, Roberto Fabelo, Lesbia Vent Dumois, Alexis Leiva Machado (KCHO), Santiago Rodríguez, José Toirac, Ibrahim Miranda and Roberto Diago among others.

On the other part, many artworks that have not had such a great impact in previous editions of the Havana Art Biennial compared to others aforementioned, they will be included in the tribute exhibition. Also some works will be showed for the first time. Such is the case of the young artist Mayin B who is able to attract the visitors's attention with an installation titled “El peso de la Historia" (The Weight of History).

Nelson Herrera, We think that the Havana Art Biennal has become a symbol of cultural resistance and some space for cultural interchange among nations. So, ¿which is your experience as founder of such event?

I am founder of the Havana Art Biennial. I think I am the only one who has remained throughout these forty years, in its 15 editions. From the first edition, in 1984, I assumed the responsibility for the care and control of the artworks. Later, when they founded the Wifredo Lam Center, I began my duties of a curator.

For that reason, I treasure good and nice experiences. Thanks to the Havana Art Biennial, I have been able to learn about much of the art that is made in Latin America and the Caribbean, in Asia and the Middle East. Also, I have traveled, mainly for research and that has helped me a lot in my professional development. I have developed myself as a curator. Thus, the somewhat empirical knowledge that the members of that small group who prepared the first three biennials of this event, the have left behind.

The Biennials have helped strengthen the profesional carriers of the creators who have taken part of the Havana Art Biennial.

How much does the Biennial contribute to Cuban Visual Arts?

The Biennials are like a driving engine. They have allowed Cuban artists to create works that they do not normally do, or they are not used to do. It is an opportunity for them to create artworks in small, medium and large formats, taking into account the place where their works will be set up.

In the same way, the biennials consolidate and strengthen the professional careers of the creators and encourage the creation of the students of the Higher Institute of Art and the San Alejandro Painting Academy.

The Bieenials also allow the Cuban artists are part of important international events. This is an opportunity to enhance and prestige their works, and make them known in Havana and in other regions. The biennials have had the attendance of prestigious foreign creators and recognized specialists; great experts in the Visual Arts.

Finally, Nelson Herrera, who is considered a renowned, expressed his gratitude to all the Cuban cultural institutions, the Office of the Historian of Havana city, the management of the Party and the Government in Havana. Without the great help and the collaboration of all of them, the celebration of the 15th edition of the Havana Art Biennial would not have been possible, especially because of the difficult times the country is experiencing.