The Irreducible Art of Roberto Fabelo

January 28, 2021

Easy it is for any wanderer in the Cuban capital to suddenly stumble upon the work of Roberto Fabelo. Even before crossing the doors of the National Museum of Fine Arts, on its facade two immense insects—perhaps extraterrestrial cockroaches—give an unusual welcome to the visitor and, in Plaza Vieja, a woman riding on a rooster attracts the gaze of anyone who crosses that beautiful site in Old Havana.

An approach to the personal style and recurring themes in the artist provide by themselves these two works, within reach of those who are reluctant to visit museums and honored galleries that have exhibited on numerous occasions his drawings, paintings, sculptures and installations; or of those who have not been able to discover the magnificent illustrations conceived by him for records and books.

Because versatile is the talent of one who, from the beginning of his career, back in the 1970s of the past century, stood out as a promising talent that would later materialize with the merit of his work and the obtaining of numerous recognitions, among them the National Prize for Plastic Arts 2004, for his life's work.

It is difficult for critics to pigeonhole this creator in a specific style, one who, through profound study, has known how to drink from surrealism, expressionism, Cuban and universal painting, to then imprint on his pieces a very personal seal that allows him to be identified at first glance.

In service of probing the human condition he has put the exceptional technical mastery that characterizes him, a combination that leads him to figure in the most important art collections and to be one of our artists best valued internationally.

Today the maker of dreamlike images laden with symbolism and sensuality reaches another year of life, such as that of the naked woman riding on the virile rooster that for some represents the Cuban woman and for others the city that welcomes him and thanks him for those works that make it more beautiful before the wanderer's gaze.