Longing for Home
Materials: Air-dry clay, wood, ink, sharpie, and paint
Left sculpture including base: 4.75 x 8.75 x 6
Right sculpture including base: 8.25 x 7 x 2.5
The sculptures represent injustices occurring in Cuba due to the communist government. During the summer of 2020 there were many protests in Cuba promoting freedom. The government arrested, tortured, and killed many of the protesters. The chants being shouted and the words on posters were "Patria y Vida" meaning "homeland and life". This language means that Cubans want to stay in their homeland, but they also want to live. The phrase also has a deeper meaning because when Fidel Castro took over and the communist regime started, the popular chant was "Patria o Muerte" meaning "homeland or death".
The sculpture on the left represents a Cuban citizen. They are wearing a Cuban flag on their back and have the words, "Patria y Vida", on their chest. The base represents a wooden raft. Many Cubans fled the country on rafts and lifeboats when Castro took over. The mix of the raft base, flag, and words is representing Cubans' love and longing to be able to stay in their homeland, but knowing if they want to survive and have a better life they will have to leave.
The sculpture on the right represents the Cuban government and the communist regime. I chose to have the sculpture on top of a beautiful Havana-style building. In the touristy areas of Cuba, buildings are kept to the best of their abilities and the government officials get to live lavishly. The rest of Cuba, where the citizens are, is crumbling and in horrible conditions due to decades of lack of resources.
The height difference shows that the government has power over the citizens and the beautifully painted buildings represent the facade that the government shows the world. It also represents that the government keeps most of the money for themselves and tourists, while its own citizens are dying.
The sculptures reflect my personal history with Cuba. My grandfather was born in Cuba and had to flee the country when Castro took over. I have also been able to go to Cuba and witness firsthand the injustices that occur in the country.
Research:
This article gives information and history about how Patria y Vida became the chant for Cuban protests. It explains how the group pictured above released a song about Patria y Vida a few months prior to the heat of the protests. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-latin/patria-y-vida-cuba-protests-1196712/
This website goes into great depth about the Cubans who fled the country on rafts. http://balseros.miami.edu
This article discusses how the Cuban government fought back against its own people during the protests. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/28/world/americas/cuba-protests-crackdown-arrests.html
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