Gallery Lehmann Maupin presents Maelstrom, an exhibition of monumental works from Cuban-American artists Teresita Fernandez. In the show, she explores the topic of colonization through visual poetry. Immense sculptures and installations feature scenes from natural disasters. The artist conceptualizes violence and devastation through metaphors. In Caribbean Cosmos, Fernandez created a series of mesmerizing vortexes over the Caribbean. The 16-foot-long ceramic panel of mosaics invites viewers to delve deeper into the connection between catastrophic weather events and human biological rhythms.
In Black Beach (Unpolished Diamond), Fernandez uses entangled palm trees and beach debris to portray the chaos of history. It consists of three large panels of charcoal and wood embedded with intertwining layers of material. Édouard Glissant’s essay “The Black Beach” inspired the series. The Caribbean writer, poet, philosopher, and literary critic describes Le Diamant, a beach in southern Martinique, as having a “subterranean, cyclical life.”
Guest may enter the online viewing room to explore a visual essay. It is full of resources including videos, articles, and images. There is a video of an interview with the artist about the research and ideas behind her work. A reading of Glissant’s poetic essay on the occasion of Maelstrom is also available. Making it even more fun, the gallery provided documentary film footage of Cuba and several essays on Caribbean history. One can even find a map of the Caribbean with original Taino names.
In addition, those curious about the show may request to schedule a visit at the New York gallery.
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