Cuban Art on Glass: A Cultural Bridge Between Cuba and China

Text and photos by Katherin Hormigó Rubio, translated from the Spanish

"Culture represents the soul and shield of the Cuban nation. Our cultural richness finds its origin in its mestizo character, in which different influences such as Spanish, African and Chinese converge, shaping our national identity," stated the Cuban ambassador to China, Alberto Blanco, at the opening of the exhibition "Cuban Art on Glass" by the artist Francisco Javier Suárez Gutiérrez, held at the JinShang Gallery in Beijing. This event is part of the celebrations marking the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Cuba and China.

The ambassador emphasized that it is an honor for the Cuban Embassy in China to showcase in Beijing the 18 exceptional works that make up this personal exhibition, "and that bring us closer to the brush and genius of several masters of the plastic arts."

He also stressed that "the Chinese presence in our country dates back more than 178 years, when the first immigrants arrived on our shores. This has been, without a doubt, a special component in our culture and identity, and the basis on which bonds of friendship and solidarity have been built."

According to the artist Francisco Javier Suárez Gutiérrez, the pieces "internalize certain features of Chinese ethnicities that, since the nineteenth century, were rooted within the Cuban nationality."

This distinctive assortment of artistic light filters, which can turn a ray of sunlight into a cascade of enchanting colors, seeks to showcase the beauty of Cuban craftsmanship. Stained glass, with origins tracing back to the Roman Empire, likely began to gain prominence in Cuba towards the end of the 18th century.

Suárez Gutiérrez said that for him it was an honor to be able to share, for the first time, the art that he is passionate about within the framework of the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and noted: "Although we are geographically distant, art unites us today again."

The occasion also provided an opportunity for the Cuban ambassador in Beijing to emphasize the numerous cultural achievements in the history of Cuba-China relations since diplomatic ties were established 65 years ago.

Regarding this, he remarked that "numerous visits by cultural delegations have been made in both directions, paving the way for mutual understanding between two cultures that, although different, already had common elements and identity."

Concerning the exhibition, he stated: "Artisan Francisco Javier Suárez Gutiérrez presents us today with a unique display rich in Cuban culture. This exhibition serves as a tribute to the shared aspiration between our two countries to collaboratively create a community with a common shared future."

Certainly, Cuban Art on Glass introduces us to highly esteemed works within the Cuban artistic and cultural landscape. The stained glass pieces feature a Flora Fong, who proudly embraces her Chinese and Cuban heritage; the skillful Saida del Río; the imaginative and contemplative Alfredo Sosa Bravo; a Choco, deeply connected to African roots; and the insightful philosopher Manuel Torres Oliva, along with other artists.

All of this further reinforces the strong relations between the two nations. Notably, Cuba was the first country in the Western Hemisphere to establish diplomatic ties with Beijing and recognize the existence of a One China.

This work was translated and shared via a License CC-BY-NC