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Manuel Mendive (b. 1944)
Embellished Offerings, from
the series “Energy for Love and
Kindness”
(Abalorios, de la serie “Energía para
el Amor y la Bondad”),
2015
mixed media sculpture in metal frame,
50 x 36 ½ x 17 ¼ inches

Illustrated in IMPORTANT CUBAN
ARTWORKS, Volume Thirteen,
page 122.

This painting is accompanied by a
Photo Certificate of Authenticity,
signed by the artist.

This painting is accompanied by a
Photo-Certificate of Authenticity
signed by Dr. Guillermina Ramos Cruz.

Dr. Ramos Cruz is the author of the
book Lam y Mendive, Arte Afrocubano,
Linkgua Ediciones, Barcelona, Spain,
2009.

“Manuel Mendive is one of the most original Cuban
painters. His body of work is integrated by
components taken from traditional popular culture,
giving fundamental weight to elements of African
origins, as they have been transculturized in Cuba,
focusing specially in the rich cultural treasures
of the Yoruba mythology. These inspirations are the
base and not the objective. The vision of Mendive
is natural, from within, contrary to other artists,
victims of the superficial seduction of the magic
conscience of the Negro, which reduces their art
to a simple reflection of lesser pictorial worth.
The importance of the painter [Mendive] resides
in the use of the surviving narratives of the
mythological ancient stories - so alive in the
underdeveloped countries - as a way to achieve his
vision of the world. ...Mendive is a representative
artist of mixed cultural breeding of the Caribbean.
His strong artistic identity, combined with his
attention to human problems of the most general
character (about the history of mankind and current
social issues) elevate his art to a projection above
the mere Caribbean dimension towards a transcendental
state. We are witnessing an original contribution of
the Caribbean to the patrimony of humanity.”

Gerardo Mosquera
Doce Pintores Cubanos,
Ministry of Culture, Havana, Cuba,
August 1982, page 20.

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