A book about Rita Longa is presented at the National Museum of Fine Arts

The book Rita Longa: Forma, espacio, luz will be unveiled on Thursday, February 8th, at the National Museum of Fine Arts in Havana, presented by Dr. María de los Ángeles Pereira, an esteemed art critic, professor, lecturer, and author of Escultura y escultores cubanos, among other notable works.

Located at the entrance of the Cuban Art Building, beneath the piece that lends its name to the book, attendees will gain access to the most comprehensive analysis ever published on this influential figure in national sculpture. Rita Longa, a tireless advocate, not only promoted the works of her colleagues but also championed the cultural and social significance of this art form.

The press release emphasizes that the book features introductory essays by architect Emma Álvarez-Tabio, the artist’s granddaughter, and Dr. Llilian Llanes, a dedicated researcher and promoter of Cuban art. This meticulously crafted book encompasses critiques by scholars and journalists, contemporary testimonials, a meticulous chronology, an extensive bibliography, and over a hundred reproductions in color and black and white. These images showcase the sculptor’s iconic pieces, including the Virgen del Camino, the Grupo familiar – affectionately known as the «Venaditos del Zoológico» – and the Gallo de Morón.

These materials enrich our understanding of her life and work, unveiling aesthetic principles, providing insights into various moments and facets of her extensive production, and accurately situating her within the trajectory of contemporary art in Cuba.

Rita Longa: Forma, espacio, luz benefitted from the collaboration of the artist’s family, art collectors, and esteemed Cuban photographers. The coordination was undertaken by Margarita Ruiz, Lourdes Álvarez, and Iris Gorostola, with the printing carried out by Selvi Artes Gráficas. The text was co-published by Collage Ediciones of the Cuban Fund of Cultural Assets and ArteCubano Ediciones of the National Council of Plastic Arts.

Translated by Luis E. Amador Dominguez