FLORENCIO GELABERT
Artist Statement
"The displacement series deals with the deterioration of materials, structural failures and loss. I honor these natural occurrences to remember them and aggrandize them. Some have said that these are expression of an artist who himself was displaced from his country, his family and his history.
There is a complex and parallel relationship between architecture and sculpture. Both are testimonies to the avatars of history. Some examples include the Greco-Roman friezes or the stelas and bas reliefs in Latin America. Using more contemporary materials at my disposal, I reference the ancient stones of history to create my epic narrative.
My work emerges from my studies of minimalism, arte póvera and land art. The practice of sculpture is a very personal and introspective act and it helps me approach my childhood in Havana during the 60’s which included many disturbing conflicts. I recall playing in my backyard in Havana with my brother, and building structures, playing war and reflecting on the wars in Vietnam, the Middle East and others. These things mark you and leave lifelong impressions.
Through this series, I am able to bring all or these elements together into a personal aesthetic that may have relevance in today’s world."
Since the beginning of his art practice in Cuba in the early 1980s, Florencio Gelabert has continued to look for ways of expression that go beyond the traditional standards of sculpture, using unconventional materials and forms, and deconstructing the actual concept of sculpture itself. His efforts have focused on the creation of sculptures and installations that incorporate elements extracted from nature, utilitarian objects, and architectural fragments.
