| My Background |
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Page 3 of 5  Working with Mimo Rotella in Cuba As an artist in Cuba we were not expected just to paint we had to be able to take part in performance art, to sculpt and to be able in the field of music. During the two years from 1987 I took part in visual arts collaborations with contemporary Cuban Jazz bands Mescla and Afro-Cuba at their concerts in Havana . I also participated in further projects for cultural revival in the mountains of Guantanamo and the restoration of Old Havana. As a sculptor I created a 10 metre work in iron for the Military School in Cienfuegos. In 1989 my life took an unexpected twist when I was introduced to a crew from BBC Arena’s music and art series. They interviewed me as part of their documentary called ‘ Havana ’ which was broadcast in April 1990. It was about the politically aware artists, poets and musicians of the time and resulted in me being offered a solo exhibition at Holland Park Gallery in 1990. I was invited to the UK for this but could not get an exit visa from Cuba . I didn’t want to come out illegally because Cuba had been good to me.
Whilst I waited for my exit visa I participated in the Encuentro International de Terracotta in Santiago de Cuba and in Encuentro de Artistas Primitivos at Mella. By the middle of 1990 my paperwork was on a slow journey through officialdom. One of my chief mentors was concerned for me for I spoke clearly about my beliefs and was often hauled off to the police station. He was for ever rescuing me. On a return visit to Cuba in 1999 this person told Heather that I just got out in time and I realised then that he must have been more worried than I knew. |