The Easel

16th May 2017

Adiós Utopia: Dreams and Deceptions in Cuban Art Since 1950: Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

A landmark survey of contemporary Cuban art bristles with interesting questions. “What’s it like to live in a country ossified for six decades under a sort of zombie Stalinism?” Can individuals build a personal utopia “even as the big utopian project seems to be going off the rails?” Most importantly, what is the art like? The last question is easily answered: vibrant and sophisticated.  Some political issues are outlined here.

9th May 2017

Botticelli in Boston: MFA celebrates Florentine master

When the austere monk Savonarola ruled Florence he twice conducted ‘bonfires of the vanities’, destroying books and artworks. Botticelli likely burned some of his own works and largely stopped painting secular “goddesses”. Those that survive define a concept of beauty that ”speaks to us today more than 500 years later”. Indeed, they enjoyed that great modern accolade – being featured in The Simpsons. More images are here.

Image: MFA Boston