Manuel Mendive

Manuel Mendive Hoyo (Havana, 1944) is considered one of the great masters of contemporary Cuba art. As a genuine, insurgent and –as few–, clung to his roots, this painter, engraver, sculptor and performer does not cease to surprise us with his art, an art that reveals the mysteries of Cuban essence and emphasizes the strength that African origin traditions still have in the national culture. All of it is poured in a naïf styled oeuvre that, away from all ingenuousness, penetrates the very essence of the Caribbean individual, recreating their habits and customs. In addition to it, the vitality of his technique resorts to horror vacui and intense colors to exacerbate the richness of the tropic, which is showed simple at the same time, as if it the creation of his oeuvre would not mean a great effort for the master. Having been already recognized as one of Cuban art indispensable artists, Manuel Mendive stays constant in his creative efforts and in the construction of a discourse where there is no possibility yet for classifications.

 

EDUCATION

  • 1959 – 1963   San Alejandro National Academy of Fine Arts, Havana

 

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2015

  • El sonido del agua me recuerda…, Collateral to the 12th Havana Biennial, Collage Habana Gallery, Havana
  • Los colores de la vida, Collateral to the 12th Havana Biennial, Víctor Manuel Gallery, Havana

2014

  • Iré, Las Rozas Cultural Center, Madrid
  • Imágenes vivas, Contemporary Art Center, Detroit
  • El sonido del agua me recuerda…, Fernando Ponce Museum (MACAY), Merida, Yucatan

2013

  • Thinks that Cannot Be Seen any other Way. The Art of Manuel Mendive, The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, Miami
  • Thinks that Cannot Be Seen any other Way. The Art of Manuel Mendive, California African American Museum (CAAM), California

2012

  • Arte Santander, XXI Contemporary Art Fair, Arte Estudio Artizar Gallery, Santander, Spain
  • La foresta mágica, Arte Estudio Artizar Gallery, Tenerife, Spain
  • La foresta mágica, UNEAC Headquarters, Matanzas, Cuba

2011    

  • Conversando con la naturaleza, Arte Estudio Artizar Gallery, Tenerife, Spain
  • La luz y las tinieblas, José Luis Cuevas Museum, Mexico D.F.

2009    

  • El espíritu, la naturaleza y las cabezas, Collateral to the 10th Havana Biennial, Orígenes Gallery, Havana       
  • Mendive en Saint Martin, Amahoro Gallery, Saint Martin

2008    

  • El color blanco, el azul, el verde y el color de mi piel, Regional Museum of Anthropology and History of Merida, Merida, Yucatan

2005

  • Alimentar el espíritu, la luz, los ancestros. Oludumare, lo más hermoso, Gary Nader Art Gallery, Coral Gables, Florida
  • Madre África, Culture House of Angola, Havana

2004

  • Arte cubano moderno, Athens
  • La naturaleza y el cuerpo, Art Center, Holguín, Cuba

2003

  • Los ancestros, orishas, la naturaleza y el pensamiento, The Americas Museum, San Juan, Puerto Rico
  • Social, intelectual y chic, Biarritz
  • Evento Internacional de Sexología, National Theater, Havana
  • Proyecto La California, 8th Havana Biennial, Havana

2002

  • Las aguas, lo cotidiano y el pensamiento, National Museum of Fine Arts, Havana
  • Shangó y la vida, La Recova Hall, Tenerife, Canary Islands

2001

  • Shangó y la vida, Cultural Center Sa Nostra, Palma de Mallorca; Capitol Cultural Center, Caceres, Spain
  • Santa Bárbara-Shangó en nuestras vidas, Universal Art Gallery, Güines, Havana

2000

  • Las aves y los peces, Galería Latinoamericana, Casa de las Américas, Havana
  • Exposición de esculturas, Havana Club Foundation, Havana

1987

  • Para el ojo que mira, National Museum of Fine Arts, Havana; Contemporary Art Museum, Panama City

1986

  • Conversando con los peces, Latin American Cultural Space Gallery, Paris

1983

  • Iwalewa, Bayreuth University, Germany

1980

  • Mendive: un pintor de lo real maravilloso, L Gallery, Havana

 

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2015

  • Nuevos colores, Robert Miller Gallery, New York
  • Detrás del muro, Collateral to the 12th Havana Biennial, Malecón, Havana
  • HB, Collateral to the 12th Havana Biennial, Pabexpo, Havana

2014    

  • Manuel Mendive and Three Centuries of Afro-Cuban Artists, Manuel Cernuda Gallery, Florida
  • One Race, The Studios of Key West, Key West
  • El peso de la idea, Collage Habana Gallery, Havana
  • PINTA, Miami

2013 

  • Keeping Hope Alive, Humanitarian Auction Triple Residency, Havana     

2012    

  • Art Cubain à Bruxelles, Rainhart & BNP Paribas Fortis, Brussels
  •  Fans Forever (Wifredo Lam, Cundo Bermúdez, Mariano Rodríguez, Pedro P. Oliva, Manuel Mendive, Roberto Fabelo), Museum of Art and Design, Miami
  • Beyond the Frame. Contemporary Cuban Art, The Light House Gallery, Glasgow, Scotland
  • Artfulling Uniting Extraordinary, Rainhart Gallery, Brussels
  • Beyond the Frame. Contemporary Cuban Art, 27 Art Gallery, London
  • Arte Cubano en Bruselas, Rainhart Gallery, Brussels
  • Küba Mozaik, Istanbul
  • 11 artistas cubanos de hoy, José Martí Memorial, Havana

2011

  • PINTA (The Modern and Contemporary Latin American Art Fair), La Acacia Gallery, New York   
  • Review. Arte por excelencias, Orígenes Gallery, Havana
  • El reflejo, Sri Lanka Embassy, Havana
  • La herencia africana (Musical gala and art exhibition), USA Interests Section, Havana

2010

  • Son cubano, Arte Estudio Artizar Gallery, Tenerife, Spain
  • PINTA (The Modern and Contemporary Latin American Art Fair), New York
  • PINTA (The Modern and Contemporary Latin American Art Fair), Villa Manuela Gallery, London
  • Without Mask (The von Christierson Collection), Johanesgurg Art Gallery (JAG), Johanesgurg
  • Love this Island, Piece Unique Gallery, Beirut
  • ARCO’10, La Acacia Gallery, Madrid
  • Ahora Cuba, Shanghai Gran Meliá Hotel, Shanghai
  • Alicia Alonso baila esta noche, Magnam Metz Gallery, New York

2009

  • Spirit Worlds, Center for Cuban Studies, Chelsea, New York
  • Latinoamérica, mitos y realidades del sur al trópico, Emilia Cohen Gallery, Mexico D.F.
  • ARCO’09, La Acacia Gallery, Madrid
  • Cuerpo, tiempo, memoria, Mariano Gallery, Casa de las Américas, Havana

2008

  • ARCO’08, La Acacia Gallery, Madrid
  • Reflections: Contemporary Cuban Art, Silver Mine Guild Arts Center, Connecticut
  • 47 Artistas y Escritores en el VII Congreso, VII UNEAC Congress, Conventions Palace, Havana
  • Surrounded by Water: Expressions of Freedom and Isolation in Contemporary Cuban Art, Boston University Art Gallery, Boston

2007

  • ARCO’07, Madrid
  • Once artistas cubanos, Le Manoir Cultural Center, Colonia, Switzerland
  • S/T, Patricia Ruiz Healy Gallery, San Antonio, Texas

2006

  • Confluences: Inside Cuban Contemporary Art, Clavijero Palace, Morelia, Michoacán
  • La utilidad de la virtud (Solidary exhibition), Miramar Trade Center, Havana

2005

  • ARCO’05, Madrid
  • Art Basel, Nina Menocal Gallery, Miami
  • Espacios: Arquitectura, Arte y Diseño, Epacios Gallery, Madrid
  • Mirada interior, Saint Francis of Assisi Convent, Havana

2004

  • ARCO’04, Madrid
  • Homenaje a Guayasamín, Oswaldo Guayasamín House, Havana
  • ARTORONTO, Toronto Conventions Center, Toronto
  • Recuento de un Premio, Villa Manuela Gallery, National Union of Cuban Writers and Artists (UNEAC), Havana
  • Mirada interior, Saint Francis of Assisi Convent, Havana

2003

  • ARTMIAMI, Miami Conventions Center, Miami
  • ARCO’03, Madrid
  • ArtBo, Bogotá
  • ARTCHICAGO, Chicago

2002

  • ARTMIAMI, Miami Conventions Center, Miami
  • ARCO’02, Madrid

2001

  • Shangó y la vida, Lomas de la Peregrina, Tapaste, Cuba
  • Santa Bárbara-Shangó en nuestras vidas, Universal Art Gallery, Güines, Havana
  • Shangó y la vida (Body panting), Cultural Center Sa Nostra, Palma de Mallorca, Spain

2000

  • Las aguas, lo cotidiano y el pensamiento, National Museum of Fine Arts, Havana
  • Social, intelectual y chic, Havana Club Foundation, Havana
  • Las aves y los peces, Galería Latinoamericana, Casa de las Américas, Havana

1999

  • La odisea africana, John F. Kennedy Center, Washington D.C.
  • FIAC, Paris

1997

  • ARCO’97, Joan Guaita Art Gallery, Madrid
  • Se parece a la felicidad, 6th Havana Biennial, Wifredo Lam Contemporary Art Center, Colonial Art Museum, Havana

1996

  • Festival del Caribe, Champeret Space, Paris

1994

  • Aguas profundas, Alhándiga Museum, Guanajuato, Mexico
  • 5th Havana Biennial, Wifredo Lam Contemporary Art Center, Havana

1993

  • Primer Festival de Arte y Cultura Vodum Ouidah’93, Benin

1992

  • El mundo del arte, El Mundo Gallery, Paris
  • Sacar lo malo, Neslé Theater, Paris

1991

  • Shangó (Inauguration  of The Latin American Memorial), Sao Paulo

1990

  • XII Festival Internacional de Ballet de Havana, Havana
  • Yemayá y Oshún, Cívica Gallery, Cavour Square, Padua, Italy

1988

  • Iroko, The October Gallery, London
  • El pavo real, 48th Venice Biennial, Venice

1987

  • Se parece a la felicidad, 6th Havana Biennial, Wifredo Lam Contemporary Art Center, Colonial Art Museum, Havana

 

AWARDS

2004

  • José María Heredia Medal, National Council of Plastic Arts (CNAP), Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
  • Hacha de Holguín, Holguín, Cuba

2001

  • Visual Arts National Award 2001, Havana
  • Hijo Ilustre de la Ciudad de Havana Distinction, Havana

1995

  • Medal of Villa de Fort-de-France, Martinique

1991

  • Medal of Comuna de Saint Guiliano Terme, Italy
  • Medal of Havana City, Havana

1989

  • Junior Olympics Medal, Japan

1988

  • Alejo Carpentier Medal, Havana
  • Collective Award, Cuban Show, Jaime Guash Foundation, Barcelona

1986

  • Mention, VI Festival of the Caribbean Culture, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
  • International Award of the 2nd Havana Biennial, Wifredo Lam Contemporary Art Center, National Museum of Fine Arts, Havana

1985

  • Award, Latin American Cultural Space Gallery, Paris

1983

  • Distinction of The National Culture, Culture Ministry of Cuba, Havana

1970

  • First Award, II International Festival of Paint, Cannes-sur-Mer, France

1968

  • Adam Montparnasse Award, XXIV May Salon, Paris
  • Award, National Salon of Visual Arts, Havana

1965

  • First Award, Drawing Salon, Havana

1962

Sculpture Award, Círculo de Bellas Artes, Havana

 

COLLECTIONS

  • National Museum of Fine Arts, Havana
  • Emilio Bacardí Museum, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
  • Museum of Modern Art of Panama, Panama City
  • Museum of Modern Art, Cartagena de Indias, Colombia
  • Ethnographic Museum of Budapest, Budapest  
  • Museum of Modern Art, Paris
  • Modern Art Atlantic Center, Canary Islands
  • Sa Nostra Foundation, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
  • France Liberté Foundation, Paris
  • Joan Guaita Art Gallery, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
  • National Museum of Tanzania, Tanzania
  • John F. Kennedy Center, Washington D. C.
  • Gary Nader Art Gallery, Coral Gables, Florida
  • Seibu Group, Tokyo
  • Cultural Center of Manila, Filipinas
  • Armando Amorim Collection Soares, Portugal