Introduction
Born in Havana, Elio Rodriguez’ work highlights questions of scarcity, hunger, and resilience. An early adopter of digital technology, drawing on themes particular to Cuban history, Rodriguez' work offers thought-provoking understandings of Cuban masculinity and femininity. Pushing the boundaries of traditional tropes, Rodriguez' work critiques the stereotypes of Afrodescendant men via the use of irony by creating fictitious movie posters produced by ‘macho enterprise’ (Judith Battelheim, 2005). His current digital art works tackle the historical, political, ideological, and economic themes that address the commodification of Afrodescendant bodies. His work contends with the often stereotypical views that circulate within dominant Cuban culture. The satirical and fictitious “macho enterprise” is a reference to the rise in tourism in the face of hunger and scarcity. But, it adheres to a much older representative tradition within global Afrodescendant empowerment movements, which center love stories between Afrodescendant men and women (for example, The Other Francisco and Their Eyes Were Watching God). The double meaning captured by Rodiguez' images captures the complexity and legacy of the Latin American Casta System.
Commentary by K. L. Cespedes
La Tentacion
Con la Guardia en Alto
digital print on paper mounted on hardboard. 2016
59,5 X 39,5” (150 X 100cm) edition big size(3). 31,5 x 20”(80 X 50cm) edition medium size(5)
Used with permission from the artist Elio Rodriguez
El Poder del Caribe
Con la Guardia en Alto
digital print on paper mounted on hardboard. 2016
45 X 32” (114,5 X 156cm) edition big size(3) 33 x 24,2”(84 X 61,5cm) edition medium size(5)
Used with permission from the artist Elio Rodriguez
La Liberacion
Con la Guardia en Alto
digital print on paper mounted on hardboard. 2016
60x44”. (152,5x112cm) edition big size(3) 2 available. 40x30" (100x76cm) edition medium size(5). Hutchins Institute, Harvard
Used with permission from the artist Elio Rodriguez
