New Art Exhibition Showcases a Modern Perspective of José Martí

An exibition in honor of Cuban Nacional Hero José Martí on occasion of the 157th anniversary of his birth was inaugurated on Tuesday at the art gallery of the Faculty of Economics in the University of Havana.

The exhibition gathers the works of eight Cuban artists under the Ojos de America Marti Project: Osmani Betancourt, Vicente R. Bonachea, Kamil Bullaudy, Julio Díaz Fleites, Rafael González, William Hernández Esteban Machado, and Carlos Enríquez.

Describing the exhibition art critic Jorge R. Bermúdez said, «The paintings aim to present José Martí from the artists’ modern perspective.»

José Martí was born on January 28, 1853 and died in military action on May 19, 1895. He is a Cuban national hero and an important figure in Latin American literature. In his short life he was a poet, an essayist, a journalist, a revolutionary philosopher, a translator, a professor, a publisher, and a political theorist. Through his writings and political activity, he became a symbol for Cuba's bid for independence against Spain in the 19th century, and is referred to as the "Apostle of Cuban Independence". He also fought against the threat of United States expansionism into Cuba. From adolescence, he dedicated his life to the promotion of liberty, political independence for Cuba and intellectual independence for all Spanish Americans.

The concepts of freedom, liberty, and democracy are prominent themes in all of his works. José Martí's life-long dedication to the cause of Cuban independence and his passionate belief in democracy and justice has made him a hero for all Cubans, a symbol of unity, the "Apostle", a great leader. His ultimate goal of building a democratic, just, and stable republic in Cuba and his obsession with the practical execution of this goal led him to become the most charismatic leader of the 1895 colonial revolution. His works are a cornerstone of Latin American and political literature and his prolific contributions to the fields of journalism, poetry, and prose are highly acclaimed. His belief in the inseparability of Cuban and Latin American sovereignty and the expression thereof in his writings have contributed to the shape of the modern Latin American Identity.