Artist Nicola Atkinson.Davidson travelled to Cuba, where she created and presented Pintura del Mar / Sea Painting at the Centre for Visual Art Development in Havana.
Nicola described Sea Painting as:
"A three meter high elliptical spiral sculpture that creates an all-enveloping environment of the sea from silk, chiffon and a series of suspended fans and lights. These produce ‘swells’ in the delicate fabrics, and in the clothes and hair of the observers, their shadows creating an incessant movement."
From the exterior, the wood made reference to the scaffolding seen all over old Havana and within the interior, fabric represented washing that is seen hanging out to dry all over the city. As visitors stood inside the structure surrounded by the tones of green and blue silk and chiffon, they thought of the sea that surrounds the island.
Setting up an exhibition like this one in Cuba was not easy. Recalling the experience, Nicola said:
"Before I went to Cuba, it was hard to understand how difficult it would be to source basic materials such as wood, lights and ventilating fans, even when you have the money.
"Upon my arrival, all the shops selling such items were closed due to the USA upping the embargo. There was a one million person strong march, with Castro in the lead, protesting about this the day after I arrived.
"Like everyone the Cubans want to survive and prosper. It is a hard life. Reflecting that spirit, I also wanted to complete the exhibition and that meant having to adopt a Cuban mentality and becoming a little hard headed.
"I was not only physically taxed in Havana but also conceptually. I was addressing a subject matter that every Cuban holds in their heart…that is, being on an island, surrounded by the sea, held there…forever… The risk was taken."
The exhibition went on for a month. Once it was over, Sea Painting was broken into pieces that were taken away by 158 members of the public who visited the exhibition. The pieces have now been recycled back into the island, thereby becoming part of Cuba itself.
Pintura del Mar / Sea Painting was a cultural activity carried out between Glasgow and Havana as part of their City Twinning Agreement. The exhibition was supported by:
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