Rocio Garcia de la Nuez, (b. 1955)
Artist Statement
La Noche de los Tulipanes I & II (The Night of Tulips II), Diptych, 2021,
Oil on canvas, 47.2"H x 55.1"W In general, in my work, I question and reflect on the meaning of the concept of power, the abuse of power in interpersonal, love, psychological and socio-political relationships. Formally, I build a narrative from creating a sequential painting, where it is common to make diptychs that show two different planes of the same story that provokes and intrigues.
In the diptych The Night of the Tulips (Oil on Canvas/ 2021) can be seen in the first canvas an exterior of the street with autumn trees in front of a brightly lit window. The second canvas shows an interior where we see precisely what is happening through those luminous windows.
Faced with this diptych, the only thing left for the viewer to do is to put together his or her own conception of the story.
Beach bar solicito, 2022, Acrylic & Ink on Paper 18"H x 23.5"W It is another sequential diptych where a character walks away alone from the noise of the bar in the night sand of the beach... perhaps remembering that someone very dear left forever between the waves.
Rocío García is a major female Cuban painter who is based in Havana. Stemming from a strict academic background, her practice has evolved, almost unchanged, over the last three decades. Her distinct language conjugates passions and experiences from her childhood, bringing together comics, cinema, literature, love and eros. For 35 years she also taught painting San Alejandro Fine Arts Academy.
Her work is exhibited worldwide. Select solo exhibitions include El Gran Chef (alias Patica de Pollo) at EL APARTAMENTO, Havana, Cuba (2023); Bellas Flores del Mal at Thomas Nickels Project, New York, NY (2021) and Sakura at Atelier NG Havana, Havana, Cuba (2020). Other recent group shows and art fair exhibits include A mí me manda Carmen at
MOCAA, Miami, Florida (2023); Untitled. ArtBasel International Art Fair, Miami Beach, Florida (2022); Art on Paper Fair, New York, NY (2022); International Contemporary Art Fair ARCO Madrid, Spain (2022). Over the years Rocío has received
various national and international awards including the National Culture Distinction from the Ministry of Culture in Cuba (2005) and National Award of Illustration from the Cuban Book Institute (2000).