SELF-PORTRAIT, by Nelson Dominguez

Havana: Self-Portrait, an exhibit by plastic artist Nelson Dominguez Cedeño that opened this weekend at the Pabellon Cuba (the HQs of the Hermanos Saiz Association) will remain there thru June 4 with a program of activities.

This schedule includes the presentation of the ArteCubano magazine’s latest issue –dedicated to this creator- a number of workshops and courses on Bonsai –a technique he’s been closely linked to- and a documentary film entitled Self-Portrait, directed by Rolando Almirante, on the artist’s four-decade-old work.

A catalog featuring images of the artist, critical reviews made by Rufo Caballero, David Mateo and Nelson Herrera Ysla and a chronological and bibliographic study conducted by Jose Veigas will be unveiled at the end of the exposition.

Curated by Jose Veigas, Nelson Herrera Ysla and David Mateo, Self-Portrait provides testimonies on Nelson Dominguez’s work over the past ten years in such forms of expression as painting, drawing, engraving, ceramics, sculpturing and installations. Some major highlights based on singularity and innovation are his bi-dimensional and volumetric pieces made with manufactured paper, bronze, clay, resin, marble and wood.

Its diversity is part of the tribute paid by Nelson Dominguez to Dr. Rodriguez de la Cruz –a master in the art of ceramics- to the Moises Santander family from Trinidad, and to Ramirez Corria. All these artists exerted a tremendous influence on Nelson’s own creative formation.

The museum layout was designed by the curators from a fragmented and complementary perspective. Part of the symbolic representation of the main instruments and technological resources used by the artist on a regular basis gathers virtually all the means and procedures utilized by this artist from both an overall and selective standpoint.

The artist’s exhibit –he won the National Prize on Fine Arts in 2009- has been jointly planned and organized by the National Plastic Arts Council, the Hermanos Saiz Association and the Cuban Cultural Asset Fund.