Rene Francisco receives the National Fine Arts Prize 2010

The National Fine Arts Prize was awarded last Wed. 22, in Havana, to Rene Francisco Rodriguez, in the presence of Abel Prieto Jimenez, Minister of Culture. The National Museum of Fine Arts’ theater (Cuban Art building) was the venue of a sincere tribute to this Cuban creator, who accepted the recognition claiming to be aware of the possibility it represents so as to carry out some projects he’s always dreamed of.

Rene Francisco inaugurates a new stage in National Prizes, as he was born after 1959 and he studied in the Higher Institute of Art. The work made by this institution is somehow being recognized with this award. It was all expressed by the President of the Fine Arts National Council, Ruben del Valle Lantaron and Luis Alberto Garcia, close friend of the artist’s. Ruben spoke about the debate and expectation generated by this recognition, and he stated that it’s a “living” prize, awarded to an artist who possesses a special vision of his time, his country, with a bold and committed work.

Luis Alberto Garcia’s praise was related to Rene’s career, from his years as a student to his latest projects, highlighting the creation of a teaching method (from Pedagogical Pragmatism) based on practice, which proposes shortening distances between artists and spectators. The actor, with sharp and definitive comments, spoke about the award winner as a human being, an “implosive” creator, who wants all of us to explode with his provocations.

During his brief speech while receiving the award, Rene Francisco praised education as a way of “saving ourselves and the rest of the people” and he remembered his classmates at ISA and his students in the DUPP, some of which were present that afternoon.

Arte por Excelencias congrats Rene Francisco Rodriguez again, and informs its readers it will keep them posted on his upcoming exhibitions (among them the one including the Award, at the National Museum of Fine Arts) and other projects.