Ben Chang, Museum of Latin American Art, Esterio Segura

Hi all, I had the opportunity to visit the Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) in Long Beach over the weekend, and was treated to an exhibition of the artist, Esterio Segura (you can check out his work yourself at the MOLAA through February 15).

Esterio Segura is one of the most controversial Cuban artists of his generation.  Born in 1970, Segura both attended and taught at the esteemed Instituto Superior de Arte of Cuba.  Having lived through three decades of political and social turmoil in Cuba, a lot of what he has experienced can be seen in his works.  Even in the ten or so works at MOLAA that I had the opportunity to view; you can see his take on the country and society as a whole; albeit with a dash of humor and satire.  It is his use of pop culture, religious figures, and sacred literature that makes him so controversial but brilliant as well.

Dialogue, 2001

Segura's first work that stood out to me was titled Dialogo / Dialogue.  The piece was described as being composed of Mixed Media on Linen, but with closer observation I was able to make out some of the mediums/composition he used.  Much of the piece seemed to be composed of charcoal (mainly the bodies), as well as acrylic (the bullhorns).  This piece is also a prime example of duplication that Segura employs through a number of his works.

My first thoughts of the work was how odd it looked, but after studying it more; I began to understand some of the social commentary he might have been making.  I think it speaks of people always trying to win the argument, instead of listening to each other.  It may also speak on the topic of politics, and how there is a lot of talking about issues, but not a whole lot of solving the issues.

The End is Never in the Horizon, 2001

This piece titled El final nunca esta en el horizonte / The End is Never in the Horizon is very similar to the previous one, but also employs the use of perspective just like we used in class.  It actually reminds me a lot of the assignment we did in class drawing the power lines.

The work itself speaks to me about progress.  I believe Segura is trying to comment on how society is so concerned with progress that they lose sight of the process.  Notice how the figure's face is pointed and focused on the horizon.  This is none more evident then in the field of engineering and technology.  Just look at how fast computers and phones are being developed.  Many times we don't even get to enjoy the latest and the greatest before it is already outdated.

History Bites Its Tail, 2012 - 2013

The final piece I want to talk about is titled La historia se muerda la cola / History Bites Its Tail.  This piece is a little different than the other in that it is composed of white pencil and acrylic on black paper.

The piece is a little hard to see in my picture, but it portrays Pinocchio being wrapped up in his own nose, sitting on a stack of books.  This is a prime example of Segura's use of satire and pop culture.  This was actually one piece of work in a collection of about six, that used Pinocchio and books.  This one was a little easier for me to discern what Segura was trying to say.  Pinocchio is a notorious liar in literature and movies; and I believe he is being used as a symbol of history.  I think Segura is trying to speak on how books and literature tend to skew history, and that the same mistakes are often repeated in each culture's literature.

It brings to mind a quote by Dan Brown :

History is always written by the winners. When two cultures clash, the loser is obliterated, and the winner writes the history books-books which glorify their own cause and disparage the conquered foe. As Napoleon once said, 'What is history, but a fable agreed upon?”

I'm really glad I had the opportunity to visit MOLAA and experience these awesome pieces of work.  It really makes me think of how we can convey deep ideologies, and challenge multiple social structures with the same tools we used to draw owls, skulls, and vases in class.  I really encourage anyone who has the time to go check it out.

(PS: MOLAA is free on Sundays)