Cuba's Pioneers is a program of education and,also, indoctrination of the nations youth. The best American analogy would be the Scouts. Certainly the Scouts are not run by the government and are only loosely connected to public education but there is an element of societal indoctrination there (which implies nothing sinister necessarily).
Cuban-born artist Dayron González explores the process of Cuba's Pioneers in his series of paintings, Pionero.
In the video below he speaks a little about the Pioneers, his art, the uniforms and more. He doesn't delve into ideology in the video or when talking to him subsequently. The images are often from above, either looking straight down on the subjects or down at an angle.
Some of the works focus on the group, all in the same uniforms, gathered sometimes in geometrical formations, unified, undifferentiated. Not all of the series are distant, some show individuals and the style of various "Pioneer"paintings also varies. You can see more at the Cernuda Arte website.
While speaking to González he asked if I knew Cuban painters. I listed those I am fond of and he replied, "Ah, the masters." It was a little bit embarrassing; why didn't I know more about the numerous young artists coming out of Cuba?
Wilfredo Lam and Rene Portaocarrero, as great as they are, are not the story of Cuban art. Young artists like Gonzalez, now working away from his homeland, carry something unique to Cuba with them. Lam also worked away from Havana in his career.
González was born in Quivicán, Provincia Habana, Cuba. He studied painting at the San Alejandro National Art Academy. He has received numerous awards for his work in Cuba.
Cuban-born artist Dayron González explores the process of Cuba's Pioneers in his series of paintings, Pionero.
In the video below he speaks a little about the Pioneers, his art, the uniforms and more. He doesn't delve into ideology in the video or when talking to him subsequently. The images are often from above, either looking straight down on the subjects or down at an angle.
Some of the works focus on the group, all in the same uniforms, gathered sometimes in geometrical formations, unified, undifferentiated. Not all of the series are distant, some show individuals and the style of various "Pioneer"paintings also varies. You can see more at the Cernuda Arte website.
While speaking to González he asked if I knew Cuban painters. I listed those I am fond of and he replied, "Ah, the masters." It was a little bit embarrassing; why didn't I know more about the numerous young artists coming out of Cuba?
Wilfredo Lam and Rene Portaocarrero, as great as they are, are not the story of Cuban art. Young artists like Gonzalez, now working away from his homeland, carry something unique to Cuba with them. Lam also worked away from Havana in his career.
González was born in Quivicán, Provincia Habana, Cuba. He studied painting at the San Alejandro National Art Academy. He has received numerous awards for his work in Cuba.
Formación Cerrada II
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