CARLOS GARAICOA

Carlos Garaicoa explores the way architecture and propaganda are intertwined in Cuba, a country where the ruins of a former capitalist order are metaphorically augmented by the promise of a better future, per the ubiquitous government’s indoctrination campaigns. Confronting the limits of a utopia, he also reflects in more general terms upon the city, its decay and its constant evolution.

Core to his practice is a reference to architecture, which has a great influence on both his thinking process and the formal resolution of his work. Drawings, blueprints, maquettes, or cutting mats constitute an essential part of his formal vocabulary. Garaicoa has also worked on-site and altered photographs with ink, pencil or cotton thread and needles. Such images appear in the series of light boxes, featuring ghost buildings that bear Garaicoa’s own slogans and reflect upon the condition of culture in his homeland. The accompanying collection of cutting mats, lying on the tables, presents various two- and three-dimensional architectural plans and experiments.

CARLOS GARAICOA, (Habana, Cuba, 1967). La palabra transformada (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII y VIII), 2009. Wood, metal, found objects, cutting mats and hand-cut adhesive tape. 8 light-boxes (94 x 63.5 x 10.5 cm. each); table (75.5 x 696.5 x 100 cm.). Installation: dimensions variable

Related Images

Other stops

Centro Botín

Albareda Dock no/d,

Peredas gardens

Can we help you?

If you need information or want to make a suggestion, please contact us below. Thank you.

Choose the reason for the message

Are you a friend of Centro Botín?

What do you want to ask us about?



We use cookies to gather data about your visit and analyse it in order to improve our website and serve personalised content. Go to our cookie policy for further information and manage your cookie settings.

Cookie settings

Choose the types of cookies you want to allow on our website and then click the save button to save your preferences.

Functional cookiesFunctional cookies are used to ensure the proper functioning of the website.

Analytical cookiesAnalytical cookies are used to analyse site usage for greater optimisation and usability.

Social media cookiesSocial media cookies are used to connect the website to third-party social media platforms like YouTube and Facebook. They can track your personal data.

Advertising cookiesAdvertising cookies are designed to gather information from you on your device to display third-party advertisements on relevant topics based on your interests. They can track your personal data.

OthersThis website also uses third-party cookies for services other than analytics, social media and advertising.