Manuel López Oliva

Plastic artist, art critic and essayist.

Native of Manzanillo, Granma. He graduated from the National School of Art in 1969.

In the year 2000 he won the National Prize for Criticism Guy Pérez Cisneros in recognition of his lifetime work. He has written essays on art, aesthetics and culture published in Spain, France, Italy, Sweden, Poland, Chile, Colombia and Cuba. He has been a jury member in different national and international competitions; he has offered courses and lectures at universities and cultural institutions both in Cuba and abroad.

His work as a plastic artist is widely cataloged and described in different books and magazines internationally. His works are found in museums and in institutional and private collections of several countries.

He is a member of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba (UNEAC), and President of the Cuban Committee of the International Association of Plastic Artists (AIAP) based in Paris, France.

He has been a painting professor at the Provincial School of Art in Camagüey and at the National School of Art in Havana. He also exercised, until 2004, teaching duties at the Faculty of Plastic Arts of the Superior Institute of Art of Cuba.

He has done illustrations and covers for various books and magazines. He founded different art and cultural institutions in his country. Likewise, he has served as a juror in multiple salons, biennials and competitions; and he has also offered lectures and courses on art at cultural centers, museums and universities in Colombia, the United States, Sweden, France, Nicaragua, Brazil, Italy and the Dominican Republic.

Artistic Work
Manuel López Oliva chose long ago to direct his artistic reflections toward individual ethics and its representation on a social level. Master of a craft learned at the end of the 60s, as part of the first student body of what was then the National School of Art and of the group (the others were César Leal, Alberto Carol, Ramón Estupiñán, Pablo Labañino, Jesse de los Ríos, Luis Miguel Valdés and Juan García Miló) that won the first Prize for Emerging Artists at the May Salon of Paris (1967), and in the midst of a great splendor of Cuban painting, at that time Antonia Eiriz, Servando Cabrera, Mariano Rodríguez, Portocarrero, Luis Martínez Pedro, Loló Soldevilla, Antonio Vidal, Umberto Peña, Masiques, Fayad Jamís, Salvador Corratgé, Amelia Peláez, among others, López Oliva ventured into social criticism through the subtle unveiling of simulation and deceit (and other evils) that have emerged in the moral space of our society, as a consequence of the strong changes that occurred in the last two decades.

From a series of "portraits" of heroes made at the end of the 60s, in versions of expressionist tints and influenced by the graphic synthesis of Cuban poster art, he moved to hedonistic interpretations of the Cuban landscape, until gradually leading to an interest in Havana's urban space, which he focused on in successive variations of The Cathedral. By the end of the 80s, facades and architectural emblems gave way to the universe of theater, specifically opera, where he finds the most effective and best symbols to "comment" on lived reality, which was already beginning to become greatly complicated.

He directed his painting toward the path of Cuban ethics, "that sun of the moral world" that Cintio Vitier spoke of. To do this, he organized his canvases as representational spaces (almost theatrical designs) starting from the guiding principle that people act, that life is a great staging, a work in which each person assumes their own character and represents it, honorably or dishonorably, until the end. The paintings appear as vast decorated sets, as atmospheres in which isolated characters dwell that jump and fly through the air in surreal harmony.

López Oliva deliberately emphasizes the specific decorative aspect (if one wants to understand some of his works this way) with full aesthetic intention, in the same way that men and women, in modern life, emphasize hair color, ornaments, infinite modalities of clothing and footwear, tattooed drawings, piercings, as resources to confuse the functional with the beautiful.

His painting is not aggressive: neither is it complacent or overly sweet. It is closer to the meditative and rational, to the reflective side than to the emotional sphere. It delves into one of the central problems of discussion in the contemporary world: morality. The changes experienced in recent decades confirm the urgency of paying attention to the ethical question, by any means at our disposal. And art has that possibility from a situation very different from that of other humanistic disciplines, as notable Cuban artists and intellectuals did in past times.

Through drop curtains, curtains, stages, disguises, masks, the artist weaves a network of decodifiable symbols for the spectator. He wants to participate in the current debate from a modest position, without shrillness or spectacularity, stimulated by the bewilderment that such a matter provokes today among people, and which also tests our capacity for resistance. His works make pacts with the subtle, with the edges of certain ideals that strive for human improvement, in frank opposition to opportunism and frivolity. Hence his ambivalence, the play of appearances that he conceals in the pictorial space and that make the proscenium a simulacrum (of reality and of the work itself) in accordance with a postconceptual logic in contemporary art.

His canvases are situated halfway between the iconographic and the metaphor (more of the latter, I think), between description and symbol, between graphic synthesis and baroque framework. They may sin from eclecticism, but they are recognized as pieces inserted in a rather eclectic culture (and not as baroque as is generally thought). Between the paraphernalia of carnival and theater, some of our main coordinates as a society and nation move, and López Oliva recognizes this from his space of peculiar pictorial creation.

Some Awards and Mentions
1968 Prize "Adam Montparnasse", May Salon of Paris, France.
1969 First Prize, Salon of Miniature Painting, Lumière Gallery, Paris, France.
1972 Recognition Prize from the House of the Press. International Arts Fair, Museum of Lund, Sweden.
1973 Mention, Salon of Young Artists (Biennial), Grand Palais, Paris, France.
1974 Second Prize, International Art Exhibition, Royal Gallery, Edinburgh, Scotland.
1980 Mention, National Salon "Carlos Enríquez", Havana, Cuba.

Main Personal Exhibitions
1970 Art Gallery, Camagüey, Cuba.
1972 Lumière Gallery, Paris, France.
1973 Galiano Art Gallery, City of Havana, Cuba.
1975 International Art Exhibition. Royal Gallery, Edinburgh, Scotland.
1976 Gallery of the National University, Bogotá, Colombia.
1981 City Gallery, Vilnius, Lithuania.
1983 House of Culture, Malmö, Sweden.
1987 "Pictoric Signs", Club 13 Musas Gallery, Szczecin, Poland.
1993 "Without Catalog", La Acacia Gallery, City of Havana, Cuba.
1995 "On Stage", Wifredo Lam Center, City of Havana, Cuba.
1997 "Classical Themes", Museum of Silverwork, City of Havana, Cuba.
2000 "Repertoire", 23 and 12 Art Center, City of Havana, Cuba.
2002 Tribute Exhibition. Novohotel, City of Havana, Cuba.
2003 "Cuba and the Theater of Desire". Bates College Museum of Art, Lewiston, Maine, United States.
2006 "Cuba, Myth and Masquerade". Contemporary Art Center John Slade Ely House, New Haven, United States.
2006 Gallery 23 and 12 Stand. "Contemporary Art Fair ARTE LISBOA".

Main International Group Exhibitions
1968 May Salon of the City of Paris, Museum of Modern Art, France.
1968 Exhibition of Cuban Plastic Arts, Italo-Latin American Institute, Rome, Italy.
1969 Salon of Miniature Painting, Lumière Gallery, Paris, France.
1972 International Arts Fair, Museum of Lund, Sweden.
1972 Museum of Solidarity, Santiago de Chile.
1973 Twenty Cuban Painters (Exhibition presented in Sweden, Norway and Denmark).
1973 Salon of Young Artists (Biennial), Grand Palais, Paris, France.
1974 Exhibition of Cuban painting in homage to Martí, Center for Cuban Studies, New York, United States.
1974 International Art Exhibition, Royal Gallery, Edinburgh, Scotland.
1976 Contemporary Cuban Plastic Arts, La Tertulia Museum, Cali, Colombia.
1978 International Biennial of Painting, Kosice, Czechoslovakia.
1983 Latin American Plastic Arts, Macondo Gallery, Stockholm, Sweden.
1985 "3 Artists from Cuba". Lumaga Gallery, Berna, Switzerland.
1986 "Art with a Smile", (Exhibition of 30 Cuban artists that was displayed in Italian cities: Reggio Emilia, Mantua, Venice, Genoa, Turin, Florence, Rome).
1987 Biennial of Painting and Plein Air, Szczecin, Poland.
1988 Exhibition of Cuban Painting, Jaume Guasch Foundation, Barcelona, Spain.
1990 Exhibition of Cuban Painting, Italo-Latin American Institute, Rome, Italy.
1994 Salon of the Latin American and Caribbean Meeting of the AIAP, São Paulo, Brazil.
1995 Contemporary Cuban Art, Museum of Modern Art, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
1996 International Fair of Contemporary Art (ARCO´96), Madrid, Spain.
1997 Contemporary Cuban Painting, House of Culture of Margarita Island, Venezuela.
1998 "Cubanías". Cuban Paintings. Museum of Fine Arts, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
1999 "Cuban Imaginings". City Council of Girona. Spain.
1999 Malecon Cultural Project. Extremaduran and Ibero-American Museum of Contemporary International Art, Extremadura, Spain.
2001 International Biennial of Painting. Cuenca, Ecuador.
2002 "14 Cuban Painters". Gallery FP. Lisbon, Portugal.
2002 Collective Mural on the occasion of the inauguration of the Chapel of Man, by Guayasamín. Quito, Ecuador.
2003 "Contemporary Cuban Art". Guayasamín Foundation. Quito-Guayaquil-Cuenca, Ecuador.
2006 Latin America 2006. International Art Exhibition by Selection. Toronto, Canada.

Some National Group Exhibitions
1970 Salon 70, National Museum of Fine Arts, City of Havana, Cuba.
1971 Cuba–Chile Exhibition, House of the Americas, City of Havana, Cuba.
1971 First Youth Salon of Plastic Arts, National Museum of Fine Arts. City of Havana, Cuba.
1972 Meeting of Latin American Plastic Arts, House of the Americas, City of Havana, Cuba.
1972 Collective Exhibition of Young Painters, Galiano Gallery, City of Havana, Cuba.
1973 Meeting of Latin American Plastic Arts, National Museum of Fine Arts, City of Havana, Cuba.
1974 Small Format, L Gallery of University Extension, City of Havana, Cuba.
1974 Meeting of Latin American Plastic Arts, House of the Americas, City of Havana, Cuba.
1975 Salon of Graduates and Professors of the National School of Art, Exhibition Hall, National School of Art, City of Havana, Cuba.
1978 National Salon of Plastic Arts of UNEAC, National Museum of Fine Arts.
1979 Meeting of Latin American and Caribbean Plastic Arts, House of the Americas, City of Havana, Cuba.
1979 Collective Exhibition of Cuban Plastic Arts, CARIFESTA, Art Center, City of Havana, Cuba.
1980 National Salon Carlos Enríquez. Art Center, City of Havana, Cuba.
1980 National Salon of Plastic Arts, UNEAC´80, National Museum of Fine Arts, City of Havana, Cuba.
1981 Retrospective of Young Plastic Artists, Lalo Carrasco Room. Habana Libre Hotel, City of Havana, Cuba.
1982 "Plastic Arts in Ballet", Habana Gallery, City of Havana, Cuba.
1983 Exhibition Havana in Plastic Arts, Cuban Fund for Cultural Property, City of Havana, Cuba.
1983 Exhibition of the Meeting of Young Latin American Writers and Artists. House of the Americas, City of Havana, Cuba.
1984 Havana Biennial, National Museum of Fine Arts, City of Havana, Cuba.
1984 National Salon of Plastic Arts UNEAC 84, National Museum of Fine Arts, City of Havana, Cuba.
1985 National Salon of Plastic Arts UNEAC´85, National Museum of Fine Arts, City of Havana, Cuba.
1986 30 Cuban Painters, Cuban Fund for Cultural Property. City of Havana, Cuba.
1988 National Salon of Plastic Arts of UNEAC, Cuba Pavilion, City of Havana, Cuba.
1991 National Salon of Plastic Arts of UNEAC, National Museum of Fine Arts, City of Havana, Cuba.
1994 Cuban Paintings, Imago Gallery, Grand Theater of Havana, City of Havana, Cuba.
1995 "Images of Martí", Wifredo Lam Contemporary Art Center, City of Havana, Cuba.
1995 National Salon of Contemporary Art, National Museum of Fine Arts, City of Havana, Cuba.
1995 Gallery Painters, La Acacia Gallery, City of Havana, Cuba.
1996 Cuban Painting, Imago Gallery, Grand Theater of Havana, City of Havana, Cuba.
1996 First Salon of Contemporary Cuban Art, National Museum of Fine Arts, City of Havana, Cuba.
1998 "In Time", Second Salon of Contemporary Cuban Art, La Acacia Gallery, City of Havana, Cuba.
1998 "Seductions" (Fans by masters of Cuban art) Wifredo Lam Contemporary Art Center, City of Havana, Cuba.
1998 "Tribute to Dance", Habana Gallery, City of Havana, Cuba.
2000 "Here and Now", Martí Memorial, City of Havana, Cuba.
2000 Humanitarian Auction of Contemporary Art. House of the Americas, Havana Biennial, City of Havana, Cuba.
2001 Exhibition of Masters of Cuban Painting, City Hall Salon, Provincial Center for Plastic Arts and Design, City of Havana, Cuba.
2001 EICTV: Take 1. Cuban Painting: ACTION", Cultural Center 23 and 12, ICAIC, City of Havana, Cuba.
2002 "Smoking is a Pleasure", Palace of Conventions, City of Havana, Cuba.
2002 "Ora pro Nobis". Tribute to the Virgin of Charity. Seminary of San Ambrosio and San Carlos, City of Havana, Cuba.
2002 Subastahabana.com. (ON LINE) Exhibition, Habana Club Foundation, City of Havana, Cuba.
2003 "Catalog". La Acacia Gallery, City of Havana, Cuba.
2003 Biennial of Art and Mental Health. Convent of Saint Francis of Assisi, City of Havana, Cuba.
2003 "Art and Fashion Project". House of the Obra Pía. Havana Biennial, City of Havana, Cuba.
2004 "Inner Vision". 35 Cuban artists, together with Italian photographer Alfredo Cannatello. Convent of Saint Francis of Assisi. City of Havana, Cuba.
2005 Hotel Santa Isabel Gallery. Havana, Cuba.

Main Collections
Museum of Modern Art of the City of Paris, France.
Cultural Center Espace Carpeaux, Paris, France.
Museum of Modern Art of Texas, United States.
Contemporary Painting. Thyssen-Bornemiza Collection, Madrid, Spain.
Moderna Museet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Rodríguez-Aguilera Collection, Barcelona, Spain.
American Art, Grassi Palace Fund, Venice, Italy.
National Gallery of Prague, Czechoslovakia.
Italo-Latin American Institute, Rome, Italy.
Kejl Olsen Collection, Oslo, Norway.
Distilleries La Navarra Collection, Viana, Spain.
Wifredo Lam Center, City of Havana, Cuba.
Bates Museum of Art. Lewiston. Maine, United States.
Hecht Collection. United States.
Collection of Latin American Art. Museum of Modern Art of Connecticut, USA.
Kenney Collection. New York, United States.
Tyson Collection. Maine, United States.
Other private collections from Colombia, United States, Panama, Chile, Italy, Dominican Republic, Switzerland, Spain, Mexico, Norway, Sweden and Poland.

Honors
Distinction for National Culture. Ministry of Culture of Cuba.
National Prize for Art Criticism "Guy Pérez Cisneros" (for lifetime work) National Board of Plastic Arts.
Diploma of Artistic Merit. Superior Institute of Art of Cuba.

Main Catalogs
1st Havana Biennial. Havana, Ministry of Culture, 1984.
Art with a Smile. 30 Cuban Painters. Italy Editorial Vangelista, Milano, 1986.
First Salon of Contemporary Cuban Art. Havana, National Museum of Fine Arts, 1995.
Fifty Plastic Artists. Havana, Ediciones Unión, UNEAC, 1996.
Contemporary Cuban Art. Museum of Modern Art of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 1995.
López Oliva. Paintings. Havana, Cuban Fund for Cultural Property, 1995.
Manuel López Oliva. Repertoire. Havana, Cuban Fund for Cultural Property, 2000.
Humanitarian Auction. Contemporary Cuban Art. Havana, House of the Americas, 2001.
VII International Biennial of Painting of Cuenca, Ecuador, 2002.
14 Cuban Painters. Lisbon, Gallery FP, 2002.
Rolling Gallery Project. Ediciones Pontón Caribe S.A. National Board of Plastic Arts, 2002.
Manuel López Oliva: Cuba and the Theater of Desire. Bates College Museum of Art, Lewiston, Maine, United States, 2003.
I Know of a Giant Painter. Martí in Cuban Plastic Arts. Council of Ministers of the Republic of Cuba, 2004.
Alfredo Cannatello. Inner Vision. 35 Cuban Artists. Ediciones Opus Habana, Havana, 2004.
Manuel López Oliva: Cuba, Myth & Masquerade. Ediciones Yale University, United States, 2006