Additional information
by Derbis Campos (Text by (Art/Photo Books)), Andrea Dal Lago (Text by (Art/Photo Books)), Edward M. Gomez (Text by (Art/Photo Books))
- Published to accompany an exhibition organised by Collection de l'Art Brut, Lausanne, 5 December 2024 - 27 April 2025
This volume accompanies the Art Brut CUBA exhibition organized by Collection de l'Art Brut in Lausanne and features essays by Cuban authors and other experts, reproductions of works and previously unpublished letters from the collection's archives. The exhibition represents a voyage of discovery that explores the world of outsider art in Cuba more than 40 years after the first exhibition, which came about as a result of Jean Dubuffet's desire to gather together in Collection de l'Art Brut works by self-taught Cuban artists assembled by his friend Samuel Feij?o, the curator of the 1983 exhibition. Being an island with a distinctive history that has long been isolated for political and economic reasons, Cuba is a fertile breeding ground for artistic creations unaffected by the traditional artistic influences of the world outside. The exhibition is divided into two sections: the first presents historical works by the Signos Group, founded by Samuel Feij?o in the late 1960s to promote popular Cuban culture through the graphic arts; the second presents works by contemporary outsider artists from the Riera Studio. Most of the works on display are made from recycled materials - cardboard packaging, newspaper, scrap metal, recycled waste - or natural materials, such as wood and jute fiber. The works reflect the artists' personal experiences, the economic, social and political circumstances of their country, and their inner worlds and obsessions. They offer an alternative and authentic view of Cuba, far from the stereotyped imagery associated with this nation. Text in English and French.
Author Biography
Sarah Lombardi is an art historian and has been director of Collection de l'Art Brut since 2013. She has made the enhancement of the museum's collections a priority since she was appointed. Her main initiatives include the Art Brut biennales, themed exhibitions devoted exclusively to works from the museum's holdings, and the creation of a new series of bilingual (French/English) publications entitled Art Brut, la Collection.
