We are experiencing another turn of the screw of intolerance. Just when individual daring is gaining ground here and there, the times of admonishment come along. The first signs appeared with the TV serial called Cuba's Reasons, whose script seems to have been written in Stalin's Russia rather than on this 21st century Caribbean island. Then came the "rapid repudiation rallies," increased police operations, monitoring cellphones in real time, detentions and searches. All this while the official press continues to say that "the improvement of the economic model" is well underway and that the Cuban Communist Party's Sixth Congress "has been a resounding success." We, meanwhile, face the shock of the correctives; no boldness is left without its everlasting punishment.
Among the lashes applied by Daddy State this time, is the closure of the cultural center run by the painter Pedro Pablo Oliva, located in the city of Pinar del Rio. Urgently called before the local authorities, this artist, winner of the National Arts Award, fell under a barrage of criticisms and reprimands. He was questioned about having declared in an interview that he was in favor of a multi-party system, and about having sent a most cordial letter to this writer to publish in her blog. He was also accused of opening the doors of his house to counterrevolutionaries, and even hobnobbing with diplomats from other countries. He was stripped of his position in the Provincial Assembly of People's Power and a few hours later a farewell poster appeared in the door of his workshop.
The artists from the Writers and Artists Union of Cuba (UNEAC) have chosen, so far, to remain silent and look the other way. Like the little figures with empty eye sockets and forebodings that take Oliva months to paint on his canvases. I maintain that now is the time to support him, to say, "Relax, your brush will be more free without these ideological ties, without these partisan formalities." It is also a good occasion for those of us sanctioned by insult, censorship and surveillance to do something. If we haven't converged in our opinions and proposals for the future, at least we can articulate the pain, drawing closer because the blow received by one is felt by all.
Yoani's blog, Generation Y, can be read here in English translation.
Translating Cuba is a new compilation blog with Yoani and other Cuban bloggers in English. Yoani's new book in English, Havana Real, can be ordered here.
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"I am, I was and I will be against the use of violence, manipulated or not, to silence any thought or idea, it is truly shameful to use aggression to impose a way of thinking or to try to use it to intimidate. Every act of this kind generates rejection and repulsion and is no help at all in the so necessary unifying of this country marked by political and family conflicts.
On the other hand, I have always thought and believed that the artist needs more open spaces for communication, and fights for this."
http://www.desdecuba.com/generationy/?p=2237
This never happens in Capitalist Paradises. Ever.
Pedro Pablo Oliva was born in Pinal del Rio, Cuba, from 1961 till 1964, he studied at Provincial School of Plastics Arts of his natal city, Pinar del Río. Further more studied the specialization of Painting at the National School of Art in Havana where he graduated in 1970. His artistic creation merged from the themes of daily and up to date reality of the Cuban society. His work reflects in an humorous way social problems. The main theme of his paintings, is the human being, his prints, his presence. He admits a strong influence of Marc Chagall and from the Cubans Eduardo Abela and Antonia Eiriz. PrizesPrize of Painting at the National Salon of UNEAC, Havana. Medal for the National Culture conferred by Cuba. His pictoric work has been presented at collective expositions in Colombia, Mexico, UNESCO, Spain, Swedish, United States and Cuba. He has made personal expositions at institutions of Havana City, Pinar del Río, Panama City and New York.Since 1993 appears the work of this artist at Auctions from Latin American Art of Christie's and Sotheby's.
http://www.maxoly.com/pedropablooliva.html
He does understand a Castro still runs Cuba so unless he's willing to become a Battista, Che or Fidel, he's gonna get kicked to the curb.