HAVANA
When Kehinde Wiley sought out to put a lens on the evolution of Black culture across the globe, his journey led him to Havana, Cuba. From April 28—June 17, 2023, Havana by Kehinde Wiley will be on view at Sean Kelly Gallery. Havana is a carnivalesque forest full of vibrant greens, and flower beds growing around various hues of Black skin.
About Kehinde Wiley
Kehinde Wiley is one of my favorite artists. He is a Nigerian-American contemporary artist who specializes in creating heroic portraits of everyday Black people in their element. Wiley is most famously known for painting the official portrait of Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States.
According to Yoruba culture in Nigeria, Kehinde (short for Omokehinde) refers to the second-born twin, who is also the chosen one to come after Taiwo, or the first born. Fun fact, it also rings true to Wiley’s life, as he also has a twin brother named Taiwo. Culture, class, lineage, power, and identity are just some of several overarching themes that can be seen in his artwork.
Exploring HAVANA
HAVANA features nine unique pieces featuring an ensemble of vibrant Afro-Cubans, many of whom are also featured in the film playing below the gallery. I have come to learn that they are part of the Havana-based folklore group, Raices Profundas, or deep roots. This ensemble draws their cultural art form from Yoruba Nigerian tradition. The 1975 documentary and its performers share the same name and it depicts live footage of cultural dances that are prominent in the religious roots of Santeria, a common Afro-Cuban religion and belief. When Wiley visited Cuba for the second time, he encountered the group and he was able to witness a taste of the island’s deep African influence.
My Thoughts on HAVANA
One of the artworks I was very drawn to at the exhibit depicted a young girl in a denim dress holding a stick; a face that I didn’t notice in the film downstairs. Since this exhibit is centered around spirituality, there’s something about the staff in her hand that leads me to believe she is a representation of the orisha Erinle/Inle. Erinle means land elephant in Yoruba.
In the portrait, her stance looks confident and captivating, which intrigues me for several reasons. For starters, she looks so youthful, but her eyes are filled with years of wisdom. There’s a slight smirk is on her face, as if she knows something we don’t. Another reason this portrait is my favorite is because I generally find myself drawn to dark-skinned characters in exhibitions. I like to look deep into their eyes to see if they wear the pain that generally comes along with having darker skin in society.
Does being the darkest girl in the exhibit centered around the African diaspora in Cuba have the same impact as it can in real life? Or could it produce the opposite – dozens of strangers staring at you in awe of your beauty and curious to know what it’s like to walk in your shoes?