Fayad Jamis Bernal

A renowned writer and plastic artist who was brought to Cuba as a child from his native Mexico. He performed various jobs, some of them related to plastic art, such as draftsman-worker in ceramic and glass carving and restorer of mosaics at the National Museum.

He collaborated with newspapers and magazines, both in Cuba and abroad, and worked as a painting professor at the National School of Art. He worked as a diplomat.

He was born in Ojocaliente, a remote small town in the State of Zacatecas, where northern Mexico rises.

His father Yunes, of Lebanese origin, and Concepción (Concha), his mother, a native of Mexico.

1936 He arrives in Cuba with his family and remains in Havana until 1937.

1937-1943 He travels throughout the Island with his family, Florida, Palma Soriano, Contramaestre, Las Cruces, Aguacate, Bayamo, etc.

1943-1947 They move to the town of Guayos, former province of Las Villas. Today it belongs to the municipality of Cabaiguán, province of Sancti-Spíritus, where they lived for several years. There he began to develop his art of writing and drawing. He enrolled in the higher school of Sancti-Spíritus and at night he took shorthand and typing classes at the academy that existed in the small town.

In 1951 He enters the San Alejandro school to study drawing and modeling, but abandons it two years later due to poor teaching and existing difficulties.

Since 1951 he exhibited regularly in Cuba and was part of the group "Los Once".

1953 On May 30, Fayad marries the poetess from Cienfuegos, Navaria Tejera. Two years later his daughter Rauda is born.

In 1954 he moved to Paris, where, two years later, he held his first solo exhibition sponsored by poet André Breton.

He returned to Cuba in 1959. Poet, painter, designer, journalist and translator, he was co-editor of Ediciones La Tertulia and director of Ediciones F. J. He was head of the cultural section of Combate and of the Sunday supplement of the newspaper Hoy. He served as a painting professor at the National School of Art of Cubanacán.

1956 He writes in Paris the poem Vagabundo de el Alba dedicated to Nicolás Guillén.

1959 He returns to Cuba shortly after the triumph of the Cuban Revolution begins, after an absence in Paris of just over four years. His return would allow him to experience the unique experience of a country (his country) in the midst of a transformative Revolution. Always serving it and working on all the tasks assigned to him.

He was a member of the executive of the Literature Section of UNEAC and director of the Revista Unión. He served as cultural adviser at the Embassy of Cuba in Mexico for eleven years.
In 1962 he won the poetry prize in the Casa de las Américas Contest with his book Por esta libertad.

In 1964-1966 He was a member of the executive of the Literary section of UNEAC

1966 His work Cuerpos (Anthology) is published by Ediciones Unión, with a cover designed by Fayad himself.

1967 He won the First Prize for Painting at the first National Salon of Plastic Arts of UNEAC

1968 He won the First Prize for Painting at the First National Salon of Plastic Arts of UNEAC

1981 he publishes the selection of his poetic work titled "La Pedrada", by the Editorial de Letras Cubanas

1982 Fayad receives this year the distinction "Por la cultura Nacional".
He was a painter, poet, designer, journalist, editor, translator, and one could count on the great friendship of Fayad Jamís.

Poem that he dedicated to the city of Havana

If you did not exist:
What would become of me if you did not exist
My city of Havana
If you did not exist my city of dreams
Built in clarity and foam,
What would become of me without your portals,
Your columns, your kisses, your windows.
And at the end of this poem, he asserted:
If you did not exist I would invent you
My city of Havana

Jamís died of a serious illness on November 13, 1988 in Havana, at only 58 years old. Among the awards he received throughout his life we can mention Casa de las Américas, obtained with his work "Por esta libertad". Other publications of his were "La Pedrada" and "Los párpados y el polvo".