The Cuban flag flies beautifully high in the landscape. The ropes serve as a flagpole. A royal palm spreads out and almost reaches its same height as if it wanted to kiss it. Our countryside on a mask, the symbolism concentrated: Cuba is the hope.
Las Tunas, Cuba.- This is the most recent work of the local landscape painter Ángel Luis Velázquez Guerra, who during the period of necessary social distancing, gave life to a painting that synthesizes what we are living through: the threat of an invisible pandemic, but emphasizing prevention as the only happy outcome.
In a dialogue with 26 Digital, the artist commented that he wanted to express that only if we are responsible, if we use the mask and go out into the streets only when it is truly essential, we can get out of this situation successfully.
The piece, named Cargando la Esperanza (Carrying Hope), reflects the native bucolic atmosphere. Small ballmoss, Spanish moss, palm trees, the occasional ceiba tree blurred in the horizon, and even - the author confessed - he plans to add a mango tree.
In addition, the canvas shows a bohío, a traditional peasant house, with its yarey roof and the planking of the palm tree's bark. While the colors -green, blue, and red - mainly - are mixed to give life to the already beautiful message.
Ángel Luis Velázquez Guerra is a self-taught artist, awarded in several contests (such as the National Hall of Landscapes of the Cucalambeana Fiesta) that has also been concerned with promoting the work of other creators.
He is the coordinator of the Eureka group, which brings together landscape painters in the province. Besides, he has been attending for the last two years, together with his colleague Carlos Gutiérrez, the children's creative workshop “Sueños Verdes” (Green Dreams), which instills in children knowledge of this aspect of the plastic arts.
Currently, in compliance with the social distancing measures recommended by the health authorities to stop the spread of the new coronavirus, Ángel and I, as a couple, are promoting together with the Art in Movement initiative, which disseminates the work of artists from the Balcony of Eastern Cuba through the Facebook social network.
