ART IN CUBA: Narrating… in Many Different Ways

The work of Darián Gallardo falls within a line of resolute and highly personal figuration that oscillates between expressive extremes. On one hand, there emerge images of strong visual impact, akin to an unrestrained expressionism that astonishes and moves through its emotional force and plastic intensity. On the other, there appear portraits and scenes marked by an implicit tenderness, where a serene, almost contemplative humanity comes to the fore. This duality reveals a restless gaze that shuns neither harshness nor introspection, but alternates between them as strategies of meaning.

One of the most distinctive features of his work is its narrative vocation, although far removed from traditional storytelling. It is not about recounting linear or closed stories, but about activating the viewer’s imagination through visual and textual cues. In this sense, the titles of the works are not mere labels, but winks that amplify meaning, opening new routes for interpretation. Painting thus becomes a fertile field for evocation, where every fragment, every gesture, seems charged with intention.

In several of his pieces, a clear influence of graphic art can be perceived, particularly the aesthetics of contemporary graphic novels. This affinity is not merely formal: there is an economy of expression and a visual efficiency that recall that universe. Darián Gallardo also demonstrates solid technical mastery, ensuring the coherence and functionality of his proposal. His work ultimately combines expressive force, narrative intent, and technical competence in a poetic vision defined by authenticity and versatility.

Who is he?

Darián Alejandro Gallardo Crespo, born in Cienfuegos in 1999, is a young Cuban visual artist who graduated with honors from the University of the Arts (ISA) in 2023, after previously completing his studies at the Benny Moré Art School in his hometown. His training has been accompanied by recognitions such as second place in Juan Padrón’s Your Favorite Animated Character contest (2020), as well as personal creative experiences like his Reminiscences intervention in 2018. In 2023, he took part in the Avenida Italia graphic novel workshop, broadening his skills in visual narratives.

He has exhibited his work in various group shows in Cuba and abroad, including the 15th Havana Biennial (2024), Post-it 10 at Galería Galiano (2023), the Leopoldo Romañach National Landscape Salon (2020), and several editions of the International Landscape Event in Villa Clara. He has also participated in international exhibitions such as the 22nd International Exhibition of the MundoArti Virtual Museum in Valencia, Spain (2024). His work moves through diverse spaces, with a notable connection to artistic collectives such as A Degüello in Cienfuegos.

Translated by Sergio A. Paneque Díaz / CubaSí Translation Staff