The
Splendor in Desolation , 2011.
Awakened by the various revolutionary movements that shook
the middle east in 2011, Calzada goes into unexplored ground. His architecture
is reduced drastically to a point of minimal influence like in the painting
above. Here is not about the Cuban architecture, its about the fire that burnt
the streets of Egypt, Libya and the hope of such liberating ideas getting to
Cuba.
Tower 2, 2011
Communication towers
were another predominant theme in this series. As the world evolves into the
technological era, we cant help but to be absorbed into it. These towers were
protagonists in the domino effect of revolutions in the middle east. The use of
the internet and mobile phones permitted the spread of information through out
the globe, and the revolutionary ideas of the fight for freedom were embraced
by many. Calzada also presents this predominant structures as center pieces of
his work, to reminds us that this
technology can be used to the benefit of the people, but also as a powerful
weapon to oppress the public.
Perhaps the apex of this series in the painting above...the
painter of architecture now introduces an erupting landscape stamped by the
Cuban royal palm trees. No sings of civilization and his brushstroke is rather
loose compared to his previous work. I consider this piece the most powerful
image of this exhibition. Its volcanic nature provides the climax of the
energetic pulsion created by The Fire Next Time.
