Manuel Mendive
Encyclopedia
Manuel Mendive is one of the leading Afro-Cuban
artists to emerge from the Revolutionary Period
. A mulatto
, he cherishes his Yoruba
roots from the West Coast of Africa. In 1963, he graduated from the San Alejandro Academy of Plastic Arts, Havana.
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He has received numerous awards for his art within exhibitions in Cuba and in Europe. Since the beginning of his artistic career, he has participated in many group and solo art exhibits. His first one man show was held at the Center of Art in Havana, in 1964. In 1968, he was awarded with the Adam Montparnasse prize for his painting exhibit at the Salon de Mai
, in Paris, and third prize at the Salón Nacional de Artes Plásticas, in Havana. Additional noteworthy awards Mendive has received include the Alejo Carpentier
Medal from the Consejo de Estado of the Republic of Cuba, in 1988, and the Chevalier des Arts et Lettres from the Minister of Culture and Francophony of the French Republic, in 1994. Today, his art resides in museums and galleries all over the world which include Cuba, Russia, Somalia, Benin, Congo, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Jamaica, and the United States.
Mendive's art is strongly influenced by the Santería religion. In fact, Santería permeates every form of his art from body painting to events performed in public spaces.
In the 1960s and 1970s, his most significant works were created, and they depict a primitive
display of Yoruba mythology
with his use of raw materials that resemble altars. A prime example that his style is primitive and mythological is reflected in his art piece “Voodoo Altar” displayed at the Museo Nacional de Guanabacoa, in Cuba. Some of the materials Mendive’s used to create “Voodoo Altar” include twigs, feathers, and hair. According to the Cuban art critique Gerardo Mosquera
, his art does not contain ceremonial function, but possesses a sense of ‘living mythological thought’ and utilizes Afro-Cuban imagery to study the questions of contemporary life. His mythological and religious themes are evident in his 1967 painting “Oya”, which is the Yoruba goddess of storms. Oya
is associated with the passage from life into death and Mendive had a fascination with death during his ‘dark period’ in the late 1960’s. An example of his primitive, Afro-Cuban imagery is seen in his 1976 painted wood carving, “Slave Ship”, which epitomizes the onset of the struggles in modern-day life. His art is minimalistic, yet it is thought provoking.
In the 1970s, he continued to promote Afro-Cuban culture through his colorful art by referencing the Middle Passage
, colonialism
, Cuban history, and Yoruba history. His art is a mixture of African and European styles. He uses this culmination of African and European techniques and traditions to showcase his Afro-Cuban style to the Western world
. Mendive displays a narration in much of his art and performances. This is evident in his 1968 painting of Che Guevara
, which offers a visual narrative to the Western world about Che Guevara’s positive influence in Cuba. Gerardo Mosquera meditatively remarks on Mendive’s art, “the black person tends to be integrated with few contradictions into a new entity: the Cuban nation.” Mendive is successful at producing art that combines Afro-Cuban culture with international themes to make an ideological statement about social issues in Cuba. In addition, his art illustrates the influences that came from Africa and Europe in Cuba.
From the mid 1960’s to 2010, much of his work includes paintings and drawings that portray spirits and Orisha
saints through the use of a wide array of colors and smooth, flowing shapes. The primary theme in his art is his recognition that African religion and African culture have shaped Cuban national identity and culture. Gerardo Mosquera praises him for his art because Mendive acknowledges the rich tapestry of African contributions to the Cuban culture.
and traveled throughout the region for a year gaining new insight into his Yoruba roots. He drew energy from spending time in Africa and became inspired on a whole new level. After his return to Cuba, his art portrayed images connected with the natural environment, such as, his 1984 painting “Viento a Fete”. An example of his belief that African religion and culture are linked with the natural world is captured through his 1997 painting “Olofi, the Spirits, Man and Nature”. In addition, his performances exemplify his heightened passion of the African culture. His interest in the culture was made apparent in his 1986 performance “La vida”, in which he painted the bodies and faces of the dancers with flowing lines that symbolize spirits.
Afro-Cuban
The term Afro-Cuban refers to Cubans of Sub Saharan African ancestry, and to historical or cultural elements in Cuba thought to emanate from this community...
artists to emerge from the Revolutionary Period
Biography
Mendive was born in Havana, Cuba, in 1944. His family practiced La Regla de Ocha, or SanteríaSantería
Santería is a syncretic religion of West African and Caribbean origin influenced by Roman Catholic Christianity, also known as Regla de Ocha, La Regla Lucumi, or Lukumi. Its liturgical language, a dialect of Yoruba, is also known as Lucumi....
. A mulatto
Mulatto
Mulatto denotes a person with one white parent and one black parent, or more broadly, a person of mixed black and white ancestry. Contemporary usage of the term varies greatly, and the broader sense of the term makes its application rather subjective, as not all people of mixed white and black...
, he cherishes his Yoruba
Yoruba people
The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language...
roots from the West Coast of Africa. In 1963, he graduated from the San Alejandro Academy of Plastic Arts, Havana.
Awards
He has received numerous awards for his art within exhibitions in Cuba and in Europe. Since the beginning of his artistic career, he has participated in many group and solo art exhibits. His first one man show was held at the Center of Art in Havana, in 1964. In 1968, he was awarded with the Adam Montparnasse prize for his painting exhibit at the Salon de Mai
Salon de Mai
The Salon de Mai is a French group of artists which formed in a café in place du Palais Royal in Paris in October 1943 during the German occupation of France. It was founded in opposition to Nazi ideology and its condemnation of degenerate art...
, in Paris, and third prize at the Salón Nacional de Artes Plásticas, in Havana. Additional noteworthy awards Mendive has received include the Alejo Carpentier
Alejo Carpentier
Alejo Carpentier y Valmont was a Cuban novelist, essayist, and musicologist who greatly influenced Latin American literature during its famous "boom" period. Born in Lausanne, Switzerland, Carpentier grew up in Havana, Cuba; and despite his European birthplace, Carpentier strongly self-identified...
Medal from the Consejo de Estado of the Republic of Cuba, in 1988, and the Chevalier des Arts et Lettres from the Minister of Culture and Francophony of the French Republic, in 1994. Today, his art resides in museums and galleries all over the world which include Cuba, Russia, Somalia, Benin, Congo, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Jamaica, and the United States.
Style and subject
Mendive’s work incorporates several art mediums and genres. His art consists of drawing, painting, body painting, wood carving, sculpture, and performance that integrates loosely choreographed dance with rhythmic music. At times, the availability of art materials was rather scarce due to the harsh economic climate of the island. As a result, he relied on his creativity and resourcefulness to obtain various mediums, commonly found in nature. Much of his work consists of paint and wood, which he combines with other interesting elements, such as, human hair, sand, feathers, and glass that convey a primitive quality. He not only paints with oils and pastels on canvases, but he paints on masks and posters. Mendive is also famous for his representation of saints and Lukumi gods through his use of carved, burned, and painted wood that he made during 1960s.Mendive's art is strongly influenced by the Santería religion. In fact, Santería permeates every form of his art from body painting to events performed in public spaces.
In the 1960s and 1970s, his most significant works were created, and they depict a primitive
Primitive
Primitive may refer to:* Anarcho-primitivism, an anarchist critique of the origins and progress of civilization* Primitive culture, one that lacks major signs of economic development or modernity...
display of Yoruba mythology
Yoruba mythology
The Yorùbá religion comprises the original religious beliefs and practices of the Yoruba people. Its homeland is in Southwestern Nigeria and the adjoining parts of Benin and Togo, a region that has come to be known as Yorubaland...
with his use of raw materials that resemble altars. A prime example that his style is primitive and mythological is reflected in his art piece “Voodoo Altar” displayed at the Museo Nacional de Guanabacoa, in Cuba. Some of the materials Mendive’s used to create “Voodoo Altar” include twigs, feathers, and hair. According to the Cuban art critique Gerardo Mosquera
Gerardo Mosquera
Gerardo Mosquera is a freelance curator and art critic based in Havana. He is an advisor at the Rijksakademie van Beeldenden Kunsten, Amsterdam and a member of the advisory board for several art centres and journals...
, his art does not contain ceremonial function, but possesses a sense of ‘living mythological thought’ and utilizes Afro-Cuban imagery to study the questions of contemporary life. His mythological and religious themes are evident in his 1967 painting “Oya”, which is the Yoruba goddess of storms. Oya
Oya
In Yoruba mythology, Oya , is the Undergoddess of the Niger River. Oya has been syncretized in Santería with the Catholic images of the Virgin of Candelaria.-Aspects:...
is associated with the passage from life into death and Mendive had a fascination with death during his ‘dark period’ in the late 1960’s. An example of his primitive, Afro-Cuban imagery is seen in his 1976 painted wood carving, “Slave Ship”, which epitomizes the onset of the struggles in modern-day life. His art is minimalistic, yet it is thought provoking.
In the 1970s, he continued to promote Afro-Cuban culture through his colorful art by referencing the Middle Passage
Middle Passage
The Middle Passage was the stage of the triangular trade in which millions of people from Africa were shipped to the New World, as part of the Atlantic slave trade...
, colonialism
Colonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
, Cuban history, and Yoruba history. His art is a mixture of African and European styles. He uses this culmination of African and European techniques and traditions to showcase his Afro-Cuban style to the Western world
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
. Mendive displays a narration in much of his art and performances. This is evident in his 1968 painting of Che Guevara
Che Guevara
Ernesto "Che" Guevara , commonly known as el Che or simply Che, was an Argentine Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, intellectual, guerrilla leader, diplomat and military theorist...
, which offers a visual narrative to the Western world about Che Guevara’s positive influence in Cuba. Gerardo Mosquera meditatively remarks on Mendive’s art, “the black person tends to be integrated with few contradictions into a new entity: the Cuban nation.” Mendive is successful at producing art that combines Afro-Cuban culture with international themes to make an ideological statement about social issues in Cuba. In addition, his art illustrates the influences that came from Africa and Europe in Cuba.
From the mid 1960’s to 2010, much of his work includes paintings and drawings that portray spirits and Orisha
Orisha
An Orisha is a spirit or deity that reflects one of the manifestations of Olodumare in the Yoruba spiritual or religious system....
saints through the use of a wide array of colors and smooth, flowing shapes. The primary theme in his art is his recognition that African religion and African culture have shaped Cuban national identity and culture. Gerardo Mosquera praises him for his art because Mendive acknowledges the rich tapestry of African contributions to the Cuban culture.
Trip to Africa
In 1982, Mendive made his first trip to West AfricaWest Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
and traveled throughout the region for a year gaining new insight into his Yoruba roots. He drew energy from spending time in Africa and became inspired on a whole new level. After his return to Cuba, his art portrayed images connected with the natural environment, such as, his 1984 painting “Viento a Fete”. An example of his belief that African religion and culture are linked with the natural world is captured through his 1997 painting “Olofi, the Spirits, Man and Nature”. In addition, his performances exemplify his heightened passion of the African culture. His interest in the culture was made apparent in his 1986 performance “La vida”, in which he painted the bodies and faces of the dancers with flowing lines that symbolize spirits.