Honorary guest

Honorary guest see a documentation video
2007 video-performance, 15min; at Killing Time (group show), Exit Art, New York.

Direction: Glexis Novoa; Camera: Emilio Perez; Makeup artist: Marcos Mere
Glexis Novoa: Glexis Novoa; Fidel Castro Ruz: Asahel Rosales; Cultural official: Ferran Martin; Bodyguard: George Sanchez; Cameraman: Maki Egusquiza; Photographer I: Luis Soler; Photographer II: Pedro Portal
Translation: Carmina Novoa
Exit Art, New York; during the Cuban Contemporary art show Killing Time, June 11, 2007.
© Glexis Novoa.

 

Honorary Guest

Encounter between Fidel Castro Ruz and Glexis Novoa during a visit to Killing Time, a Cuban art exhibition at Exit Art, New York, on June 11, 2007.

Part I

GN: Thank you very much for having come, I really appreciate that you have taken the time to be here.

FC: For me it is an honor to be in this city, full of friends and people, whom I’m sure still love me.

GN: Of course commander, absolutely. I wanted to show you what is the section of Cuban performances in the 80’s. Here we have… this is Leandro Soto’s work, he worked in the city of Cienfuegos; were he began to do these things on the street and to play with objects brought by the sea, by the port…

FC: I clearly remember this boy’s work, impeccable and I think he was a pioneer of the movement!

GN: Yes, yes commander.

FC: So you see that I still have a clear memory.

GN: Yes, commander, yes; it is true commander, absolutely and he did these works on the Ceiba…

FC: I did not forget, excuse my interruption…

GN: Don’t worry; we’re doing fine, we’re doing fine…

FC: What? Do you have any doubts?

GN: No, no, sorry, I just “had my notes”, because I wanted to explain accurately … In this period a group of artists did a performance supporting your speech during a CDR congress, the comrade’s from UNEAC, from the Volumen I group…

FC: Absolutely connected with the proper path of the revolution…

GN: Yes, yes…

FC: A proper activity, very appropriate.

GN: Yes it is true, that was carried out in a park of El Vedado…

FC: Can I see this; this is a sugar cane field, is it not?

GN: No, no, this is park Lenin commander; this is the group Hexagono who created these works modifying perspective on a landscape. I don’t know if you have seen these peaces before?

FC: I noticed those are not hexagons, those are pyramids.

GN: Yes, absolutely, because these installations were done on the beach…

FC: Interesting work, it brings to mind the figure of Jean Dibbets, or something like that?

GN: Yes, yes commander, he is a Dutch artist.

FC: I am aware; before I came here, there were…I think a few nurses who gave me those papers… to communicate with you…

GN: This is also Leandro, he did these works with guerrillas, remember?

FC: A sacred word! This word brings me extraordinary memories … and you know that!

GN: Yes, yes commander, I know that you… there is one thing… sorry, sorry…

FC: It’s very interesting this type of work, this work brings back a lot of memories… I might buy it and take it with me!

GN: Yes commander, I know that you have a good art collection… In this exhibition Consuelo Castaneda and Humberto Castro entered the UNEAC dressed as a penis and a vagina…

FC: Briefly questions those who accompany him

GN: and, and… no, it’s just a news paper cut out… and then here, this is, that wish was

organized at the FCBC, with these people dancing outside of the Havana Gallery, that was a plastic action done by me at the …

FC: I remember these activities also… of extraordinary importance, because they always connected the masses and the people, the same way we used to do in the CDR activities.

GN: Yes, students also participated.

FC: A very important activity and I’m proud that these pictures are here right now…

GN: Here in New York, the window of the world.

FC: No, you don’t see these things anymore…

GN: This is the group ARDE, they where involved with Human Rights issues and here is where they…

FC: With this telephone, I’m communicating… and I can talk with many comrades, even to know about the world situations… and here I can communicate. Well… I’m going to hang up now; I don’t want to talk anymore!

GN: Commander, I was saying that…

FC: I can’t distinguish it from back here, but continue; excuse my interruptions.

GN: … this belonged to the group ARDE; these are some press articles relating to the activities on the streets…

FC: Of course I remember this; Soledad Cruz, I think she properly described… this whole matter; and there is nothing more to say!

GN: Yes, this is true commander, this is true.

FC: Just see how I remember those times, I remember extraordinarily of those…

GN: And here we have Marta Limia, Who had some issues, when they did that of Che Guevara; that some people walked over Guevara’s image…

FC: The world faces grave problems, very serious and we must take on a revolutionary response to avoid… a deadly catastrophe.

GN: Yes, it’s true…

FC: There is no turning back!

GN: This is the work of Carlos Cardenas…

FC: “Men at work, here originals are constructed easy to acquire”. Is this related to the micro brigades?

GN: Yes, yes, he used to dress as a construction worker.

FC: Very important work, this guy escaped us, I don’t know where he is now? I don’t know who could have authorized his exit, that boy was interested in all that stuff… in the imperious needs to build our country, which is very important.

GN: He was who said: “I do not exist…

FC: “I do not exist, only my intention”… I still remember.

GN: Yes, he is the author, Carlos Cardenas.

FC: I have no idea how this guy was allowed to leave.

Part II

GN: Commander, this is Jose Luis Alonso’s work, it is a book as you can see, but, it’s a book…

FC: It is a blank book! I’m sorry to tell you that I like ideas to be very clear!

GN: Yes, I know but…

FC: I can’t take it; this is an ambiguous message. I cannot relate to this, it is a work a bit ambiguous.

GN: It is true, my apologies, my apologies commander; regardless I would like to show you…

FC: We can continue with the tour…

GN: I am not sure if you remember this activity at the Revolution Square?

FC: There I see Pablo, this one over here, in the picture over here I believe this is Pablo…

GN: Yes commander, this is Pablito…

FC: And this one, if I remember correctly is Vicente Feliu?

GN: Yes, Vicente Feliu commander and these ones here…

FC: What pictures, what magazines…

GN: And the artists were painting the mural, the painting, the plastic action…

FC: A great moment… can you imagine? The square! The podium right there…

GN: This one is Robert Rauschenberg…

FC: Very emotional, let me tell you, even for you I know you’re sure of what I’m saying…

GN: Yes, an important place for the whole revolution. This is the American artist Robert Rauschenberg…

FC: I know him as well! A few times we spent up till three in the morning speaking…

GN: Yes, and this is an Alonso Mateo piece…

FC: This is no way to represent the inmates! This is a disrespectful mockery…

GN: Yes well, that was a piece…

FC: Let us move on to the next works…

GN: Here we have the group from Las Tunas, they went through a few inconveniences related with street art and with the towns people too… you know? They came about some sort of complication…

FC: This work seems to me far too uncomfortable! Lets go ahead, let’s go… I can’t stay, we haven’t time…

GN: This one is Arturo Cuenca, he did a performance… this is the Baseball Game, which I’m sure you were aware of …

FC: Our athletes, have carried Cuba’s name very highly, but, this idea … of artists dealing with a baseball! It is a little confusing, I think. This is a confusing message.

GN: Here we have Angel Delgado’s work; he defecated on a Gramma News Paper during an art exhibition…

FC: The world, in this historic moment is facing very complex problems… and there is a lack of those principals, which will be there to defend us and in that way avoid a worldwide catastrophe! We don’t have much time…

GN: It is true, you are right commander. So, here…

FC: You know that that is the… the title of the show, here… Killing Time, looks like we don’t have much time…

GN: Yes it’s true…

FC: Let me not forget, let me tell you something very important, you’re missing an artist in the show and you know it!

GN: But, did you see the list commander?

FC: I know that you… what?

GN: Did you check the list commander?

FC: What? It’s got to be, I checked meticulously… we checked the list and you forgot an extremely important artist! That list has been checked and you have forgotten a very important artist!

GN: Seriously?

FC: I have done many performances in my life!

Both Smile

GN: It’s true commander, it’s true, I thank you very much for joining us, and the truth is that…

FC: My pleasure… it has been a pleasure, thank you for the invitation, we… that the time is running; I don’t want to talk any no more! I don’t want to talk any no more! We can… you can feel welcome to come over whenever you like…

GN: Thank you commander.