After almost half a century dedicated to the world of monumental forms, brushes and colors, Alberto Lescay today received the 2021 National Prize for Plastic Arts, an award that praises his prolific career marked by Cuban history and identity.
The sculptor, engraver, painter and cartoonist received the distinction from the Cuban Minister of Culture, Alpidio Alonso; and the president of the National Plastic Arts Council, Norma Rodríguez, in a ceremony presided over by the vice minister of the Caribbean nation, Inés María Chapman, and authorities from the country’s creative and political scene.
The appointment held at the National Museum of Fine Arts marked the beginning of a cycle of tributes that will last until the end of this year, when the creator will organize a personal exhibition in that same institution.
During the meeting, the opinion of the jury was announced, which chose the creator from among 32 proposals for his “values as a sculptor”, his ability to organically integrate his pieces in public spaces and “represent the best of our nationality”.
In the words of praise, the intellectual Rafael Acosta highlighted the journey led by Lescay, his dedication to studies to achieve a high level of professionalism and his close relationship with the symbols, characters and events of Cuba.
For his part, Lescay thanked this distinction, which although it escapes his purposes, he knew not his spirit and sets the course to continue creating, while receiving the hospitality of cultural institutions, musicians, artists, friends and family.
At 71 years of age, Lescay has developed most of his work in the eastern province of Santiago de Cuba, -his homeland-, while signing his signature on works such as the architectural complex Plaza de la Revolución Antonio Maceo, the monument al Cimarrón and the one inspired by the Mother of the Homeland Mariana Grajales, among others.
Its catalog also includes small-format sculptures and pictorial series that have been exhibited in prestigious galleries and museums in Cuba and other countries such as Mexico, the United States, Canada, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Germany, Jamaica, Brazil and Russia.
Member of the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba and the International Association of Plastic Artists, Lescay joins, with this award, the list of awards received for his work, which also includes the Distinction for National Culture.
Considered one of the most prolific creators of the visual arts in the Caribbean nation, Lescay has a work closely linked to Cuban history and culture, evoking moments or emblematic characters of the country.
In this sense, his intense work at the head of the Caguayo Foundation stands out, which promotes collective creation from various cities in the country, through the installation of monumental or environmental sculptures of a historical nature.
