Exhibitions

CUBAN EXHIBITIONS in SCOTLAND

November 2001:
‘The Rhythm of the Saints’ at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, opening event for Glasgow’s Si! Cuba Festival.

In 2001 Filiberto Mora had a solo exhibition ‘The Rhythm of the Saints’ at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow as part of Glasgow’s Si! Cuba Festival. The exhibition involved 40 plus small figurine saints of the Afro-Cuban Santeria religion designed by Mora and made with the help of his brother Yanoski and family in Havana. In 2002 five pairs of the Orisha Saints exhibited were later acquired by Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum through St Mungo’s Museum for permanent exhibition.

Cuba Sí! Exhibition, 50 Years of Cuban Photography, Dick Institute, Kilmarnock, Scotland (April 21 - June 15 2001)

In April 2001 Filiberto Mora was invited to exhibit a selection of his vernacular pieces to complement the exhibition Cuba Sí! 50 Years of Cuban Photography at the Dick Institute, Kilmarnock (April 21-June 15). He restored the three Orisha Saint sculptures from the Lady Salsa show: Santa Barbara was placed in the Institute Hall to welcome visitors, while The Black Virgin of Regla (patroness of Havana) paired with Yemayá (mother of the orishas and queen of the seas); and The Virgen of Charity of Copper (patroness of Cuba) paired with Oshún, (who loves children, protects marriages and is responsible for arts and rivers), were placed in the main gallery.

Motor bike with side-car - these have been a tremendously popular form of transport in Cuba for the whole of the 20th century. In the opening sequences of the Wim Wender's Academy Award nominated documentary film 'The Buena Vista Social Club', North American guitarist, Ry Cooder, takes his son, Joachím, to the famous Egrem recording studios in Havana in one.

A Bici-Taxi - a bicycle taxi. When the Cuban economy fell into a black hole at the beginning of the 1990s Cubans had to become very inventive. When petrol came into short supply, the 'bici-taxi' was invented as a way of getting around; hard work for the driver but very pleasant for the passengers! This one is decorated with an advertisment for 'Cerveza Cristal', the Cuban national beer, and called after 'La Habana Entera' (All Of Havana), a famous Cuban poem.

Buena Vista Social Club

To celebrate the visit of world famous group the Buena Vista Social Club to Glasgow in May 2001, Filiberto Mora made a 'Buena Vista Car' holding four of the musicians, who also star in Wim Wenders' eponymous film: Ibrahím Ferrer (driving), Omara Portuondo, Compay Segundo (with guitar), and Cachaíto López, whose bass is featured on top of the boot. It was exhibited with records, books and programmes of members of the group at the Dick Institute, Kilmarnock (see left). Pictured below is 92 year old Compay Segundo, and (on the left) Ibrahim Ferrer, at the legendary Egrem Studios in old Havana with 'The Buena Vista Car'.

SOLO and JOINT EXHIBITIONS

2003-5 In 2003 the Filiberto Mora pieces ‘Chango x 3’ are exhibited as part of the 8th International Shoebox Exhibition, University of Hawai’i, and will become part of the Travelling Exhibition visiting galleries throughout the United States and Taiwan.

From September 9-30 2003 The Mora Brothers exhibition ‘El Poder de los Orichas’ (The Power of the Orishas) is at the Centro de Desarrollo de las Artes Visuales in the Plaza Vieja, Havana Vieja (Old Havana), Monday to Saturday from 10am until 4pm. Curated by José Angel Toira and Meira Marrero it explores the idea of the multiple objects used by Santeros of the Afro-Cuban Santeria religion to express the spirituality and powers of Orisha deities using ideas culled from modern technology.

In June 2003 the Mora Brothers exhibit the work ‘Cyber Ochun’ in the Salon de Arte Digital, Havana (opening June 15th).

In 2001 the Mora Brothers took part in the Bienale de Arte en la Comunidad, Regla, Havana (Art in the Community Exhibition)

In 2002 the Mora Brothers took part in the exhibition ‘30%, Thirty-per-cent’ and the Galería Villena of Havana University

In Spring 2003 the Mora Brothers made the stage set for new stage spectacular by British Theatre Director Toby Gough, ‘Lo Máxima de Cuba’ about veteran Cuban band leader and singer Beny Moré and for the new 2003 touring version of ‘Lady Salsa’. In Summer 2002 the Mora Brothers made pieces for stage set of new version of ‘Lady Salsa’, for Australia.

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