Restoration of Major Environmental Sculpture Collection in Cuba

There are 40 hectares sown with rocks, metal, wood and concrete just 10 kilometers away from this city. The Sculptures Park, one of the most outstanding collections of environmental art in Cuba, is being occupied by professional restorers. Caguayo Foundation heads this movement that has already transformed over 90 percent of that outdoor gallery.

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These lands were blessed by creators from several continents twenty-seven years ago. It was the 2nd edition of “Shape, Sun and Park” International Sculpture Symposium, organized by architect Augusto Rivero Mas.

This treasure seemed to be lost as marabou and deterioration were gaining space, but its history can continue thanks to the work carried out by new artists: “We did a great technical work and handpicked an excellent team of professional restorers so as to recover this beautiful place, where nature and art shake hands”, Alberto Lescay Merencio, sculptor and President of Caguayo Foundation, said.

The Sculptures Park showcases 20 environmental pieces created by prestigious artists from Cuba, France, Colombia, Mexico, Japan, Germany and Sweden. Metal, wood and concrete have been molded by such creators as Cuban Hugo Rubio, with his “Subir Lomas Hermana Hombres”; “Entrada a las Piedras Sagradas”, by Colombian Eduardo Ramirez Villamizar; Ramon Casas’ “Armonia Subyacente” and Guarionex Ferrer paid tribute to nature with “Amanecer de Columnas Solares”. “Circulo Magico” can only be seen in pictures because it’s no longer there.

The restorers are going to bring back that work created by Mexican Helen Escobedo, just as they are doing with “Nubes en el Espacio”, which was brought down by hurricane Sandy: “We can say that 90 percent of the work has been completed. There was marabou everywhere and many structures were broken, we welded, applied anticorrosive means and painting”, Eduardo Franco Castro, Restoration Specialist, explained.

This is a magical outdoor gallery, a live system where hurricanes and oblivion won’t take a piece of its 40 hectares.