Post-revolutionary Cuba through the eyes of Juan Francisco Elso

When Susanna V. Temkin, head curator at New York’s El Museo del Barrio, and invited guest curator Olga Viso collaborated on the development of an exhibit on the work of Cuban artist Juan Francisco Elso, the idea was to present the unique perspective of a creative whose entire life experience was influenced by the Castro-led revolution of the 1950s. The result is a 45-piece ode to Elso’s sculptural practice, which is deeply influenced by the complex fusion of contemporary Cuban, Caribbean, and Latin American identities; cultural influences of Indigenous traditions and Afro-Caribbean religious beliefs; as well as the region’s history of colonial oppression.

‘Juan Francisco Elso: Por América’ is a captivating exhibition offering a profound exploration of the remarkable yet fleeting career of the late Elso. On view at the Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami (MOCA) following its premiere in New York and a second showing at the Phoenix Art Museum, ‘Por América’ is the first traveling survey of Elso’s work in the United States since the early 1990s, representing a rare opportunity to experience the artist’s dynamic and thought-provoking creations. The exhibition serves as a tribute to Elso’s artistic legacy, shedding light on his contributions to the world of contemporary art and his impact on the cultural landscape of the Caribbean. Visitors delve into Elso’s artistic evolution and gain a deeper understanding of the themes, techniques, and ideas that defined his creative journey.

‘Elso has had such an enduring impact on Cuban and Latin American art and through the contemporary art world,’ says Chana Sheldon, executive director at MOCA. ‘Showing [the exhibition] in Miami was really important to us because of our extensive communities here.’

Elso was a prominent figure and a pivotal member of the first generation of artists who were born and raised in post-revolutionary Cuba. His work reflects the complexities of his time and the transformative period in which he lived. One of Elso’s exquisitely mesmerizing works, Caballo contra colibrí (Horse against Hummingbird) (1988), depicts a thin, nearly full-size wooden form of a horse, with a thin wire extending over its head to which a wire hummingbird bird in flight is attached. According to accompanying notes, the two animals represent the complexity of the relationship and history between Europe and Latin America. The horse itself seems threadbare and unfinished, not quite reaching its potential. This piece was Elso’s last, before succumbing to leukemia in 1988 at the age of 32.

‘I think what’s so beautiful about Elso’s work is his use of natural materials and how delicate and eloquent they are,’ says Sheldon. ‘Despite the fact that he died at such a young age, his pieces continue to tell his story.’

‘Juan Francisco Elso: Por América’ goes beyond a one-person retrospective, as it also presents the works of 30 multigenerational artists actively shaping the contemporary art scene. These artists, inspired by Elso’s groundbreaking vision, provide a diverse and dynamic perspective on the region’s artistic heritage and its ongoing evolution. Organized by Viso and Temkin into several interrelated, thematic sections, the exhibition explores the intersections and parallels present in Elso’s art and works by artists such as José Bedia, María Magdalena Campos-Pons, Albert Chong, Graciela Iturbide, Glenn Ligon, Rogelio López Marin (GORY), Ana Mendieta, Senga Nengudi, Lorraine O’Grady, Gabriel Orozco, Marta María Pérez Bravo, Tiona Nekkia McClodden, and Reynier Leyva Novo, among others. 

‘We’re aiming to showcase the legacy of Elso as an influential artist while bolstering the global status of his like-minded peers who followed,’ says Sheldon.  

As a whole, ‘Por América’ invites viewers to explore the rich tapestry of artistic expression in the region while celebrating the legacy of an artist whose brief yet significant career continues to resonate with audiences today. 

This article was originally published in the Art Basel Miami Beach magazine 2023. 

Published on November 28, 2023.

Captions for image: Juan Francisco Elso. El Viajero (The Traveller), 1986 (detail). Courtesy of Colección y Archivo de Fundación Televisa (Collection and Archive of Fundación Televisa).