Ernesto Benítez (CV)
Ciudad Habana, 1971
Lives and works in Havana, Cuba and Palma de Mallorca, Spain
Phone:
(+53.7) 271.21.82
eMails:
artebeny1[at]yahoo.es
ebenitez[at]cubarte.cult.cu
Biographical Summary:
Ernesto Benitez began his art studies at the age of 12, at the Vocational School of Art in El Cerro, Havana. He has studied at the Instituto Superior de Arte (known as the Universidad de La Artes), the San Alejandro Fine Art Academy and has completed several postgraduate courses in Philosophy, Linguistic Anthropology, Cultural Anthropology, Syncretic Religions, Caribbean Cultures, thus gaining access to various tools and a theoretical conceptual foundation that has allowed him to expand the boundaries of art.
Member of UNEAC: Unión Nacional de Escritores y Artistas de Cuba.
1986-1990
Participates in exhibitions and murals (Walls) with “Arte Calle” Group. Havana.
2001-2005
Professor of Art & Anthropology. Superior Institute of Art. Havana.
2001-Today
Gives workshops and lectures on anthropology in the perspective of art, in cultural institutions in Cuba and Spain.
Studies:
2010
Postgraduate in Philosophy. National Institute of Socio-Religious Studies. Havana.
Postgraduate in Religiosity and Popular Culture. National Center for the Improvement of Culture, Havana.
Postgraduate in Linguistic Anthropology. National Center of Conservation, Restoration and Museology, Havana.
2002
Postgraduate in Cultural Anthropology. National Center for the Improvement of Culture, Havana.
1995-2000
Superior Institute of Art. Havana.
1986-1990
San Alejandro Academy of Fine Arts. Havana
1983-1986
Paulita Concepción Vocational School of Art. Havana.
Personal Exhibitions:
2023
Leviathan. Hispano-American Center of Culture. Havana, Cuba.
The Lethargy of the Gods. Visual Arts Development Center. Havana, Cuba.
2022
Reset Work (Nit de l´Art 2022). Mallorca Progress Society. Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain.
2019
Ab æternō (Collateral – XIII Havana Biennial) Open Studio. Espacio Vedado, Havana.
2011-2018
Proyecto 7 Días de Silencio (7 Days of Silence Project). Palma de Mallorca, Spain and Havana, Cuba.
2011
Rapid Eye Movement. Magazine for the Arts, Barcelona.
Recurso de Probabilidad. Magazine for the Arts, Madrid.
2010
Philanthropy. La Casona Gallery, Genesis Art Galleries. Havana.
The Process. Galiano Gallery, Havana.
2009
SaMsara. (X Havana Biennial). Convent of Santa Clara. Havana.
Stolen Mass. Clandestine intervention during the opening of the exhibition “Puntos de encuentro” (Meeting points), organized by Alexis Leyva (Kcho) for the 10th Havana Biennial. San Francisco de Asís Convent. Havana.
2007
Absurd harmony of being (All the names of God). La Casona Art Gallery, Genesis Art Galleries. Havana.
2006
Borderline (Diagnostic Exercise). Villa Manuela Gallery (UNEAC). Havana.
2005
Exitus-Reditus, Cartography of the Self. Servando Gallery, Genesis Art Galleries. Havana.
2004
One and a thousand Eyes. Museum of Rum /Havana Club Gallery, Genesis Art Galleries. Havana.
2002
The Great Flight. Luz y Oficios Gallery. Havana.
2000
On the Road, Espacio Abierto Gallery (Revolution and Culture Magazine), Havana.
Pain is The Life, Luz y Oficios Gallery. Havana.
Paintings by Ernesto Benitez. Library of Jaimanitas Y CS Mrcelo Salado. Havana.
1999
To tear the veil of the Arcane. Luis de Soto Gallery. Faculty of History of Art, University of Havana.
1998
The light of the Body. Gallery L. Havana.
Walking on your Footprints. Performance, Gallery L. Havana.
1996
The exercise of Suspicion. Gallery L. Havana.
1995
Survivors. Domingo Ravenet Art Gallery. Havana.
The Message in the Bottle, Appendix to M. Duchamp’s Bottle Dryer (Egouttoir or Porte-
1994
Gospels. Wifredo Lam Gallery (5th Havana Biennial).
Black and White. Servando Cabrera Moreno Gallery. Havana.
Vogue, For the Love of Art. Wifredo Lam Gallery. Havana.
Guantanamera. Exhibition (coinciding with the rafters’ crisis). Artist’s home and Casa de Cultura de Jaimanitas. Havana
Guantanamera. Intervention during the outings of the rafters in the summer of that year in different coastal points of Jaimanitas. C. Havana.
1993
Acrylics by E. Benitez. House of Culture, Jaimanitas. Havana.
Ephemeral Erotica, Performance. Gardens of the Servando Cabrera Moreno Gallery. Havana.
Genesis of the Apocalypse. San Alejandro Fine Arts Academy. Havana.
1991
Paintings by E. Benitez. House of Culture, Jaimanitas and CSO Marcelo Salado. Havana.
Ernesto Benítez, Marina Hemingway Residential. Havana.
1990
Genesis of the Apocalypse. San Alejandro Fine Arts Academy. Havana.
1988
Criteria. San Alejandro Fine Arts Academy. Havana.
Collective Exhibitions (Selection):
2023
Vozes da Paisagem Contemporânea. Pavelló do Museu da Faculdade de Belas Artes. Universidade do Porto. Portugal.
Innovation & Art Exhibition, Mallorca Progress Society. Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
Innovation & Art Auction, Mallorca Progress Society. Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
The landscape that speaks. Theoretical context and interdisciplinary cultural references. Mexico, Portugal and Spain as scenarios. University of the Balearic Islands. Departament Ciències Històriques i Teoria de les Arts.
Veus del paisatge. Art and interdisciplinarity. Mexico, Portugal and Spain. Centre Cultural la Misericordia, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
El Paisatge Com A Reclam. Melis Cursach Centre. Capdepera, Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain.
Del Projecte a les Imatges: El Paisatge Com A Reclam. Centre Cultural Espai Passatemps, Santa María del Camí, Mallorca. Under the auspices of the Michael Horbach Stiftung Foundation, Balearc Islands, Spain.
Come Together, Group exhibition on Collages. Infraestudio, Havana, Cuba.
Juana de las Flores, Contemporary Cuban Art. La Lavandería. Havana, Cuba.
2022
Territorial (Land), Enlaces Project. Loft Bahía by Estampa. Old Havana, Cuba.
2012
Contribution essay to a debate for the moratorium on art. Ariz Tower, Kultur Basauri. Bilbao.
2009
TOP_OS (10th Havana International Art Biennial) Underground of Carlos III Shopping Mall. Headquarters of the Vivarta Group. Havana.
Cronos. La Casona Gallery, Genesis Art Galleries, Havana.
Voyons voir… Garie Intemporel. Paris
2008
Cuban Photography. Intemporel Gallery. Paris
Sculpture Biennial. Teodoro Ramos Gallery. Havana.
2006
Isla Interior, Contemporary Cuban Art. Havana Club Gallery/Rum Museum. Havana
2005
Toronto International Art Fair (TIAF). Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Ontario, Canada
Alternatives. Servando Gallery, Genesis Art Galleries. Havana
Cuba: The next generation. Cuban Art Space, NY. USA
Cuba from the inside looking out (part I). Center for the Cuban Studies. New York, USA.
2004
Cuba from the inside looking out (part I). Elaine L. Jacob Gallery. Wayne State University, Detroit, USA.
Cuban Arts, Wiseenschaftpark Gelsenkirchen. Gelsenkirchen, Germany.
2003
Trin’aria (7th Havana Biennial) Servando Cabrera Moreno Gallery. Havana
Subastahabana (2nd Electronic Edition) LTI-Panorama Hotel & Habana Gallery. Havana.
2002
Salón de La Ciudad, Provincial Center of Plastic Arts and Design. Havana.
2001
Salón de La Ciudad, Provincial Center of Plastic Arts and Design. Havana.
2000
Salon Playa, Servando Cabrera Moreno Gallery. Havana.
The Adoration of the Artistic Genius (Performance). Address of the artist. Havana.
1998
Catharsis (homage to Isaac Benitez). DEXA Gallery, University of Panama.
The Impossible Possible, Instituto Superior de Arte. Havana.
This has no Name, (collateral to the II Salon of Contemporary Cuban Art), Higher Institute of Art. Havana.
X Encounter of Miniexpression, DEXA Gallery. University of Panama.
1997
Contemporary Cuban Art, Gallery C. Cleveland State University. Ohio, USA.
Day of the Dead. School of Visual Arts, University of Nuevoleón. Monterrey, Mexico.
IX Encuentro de Miniexpresion, DEXA Gallery. University of Panama.
1996
Sharp Spurs (Intervention Project) Malecón Fairgrounds. Havana.
Habana Gallery, Havana.
Salon Homage to Carlos Enrique, Her Car Art Gallery. Havana.
13 de Marzo Salon, L Art Gallery.
1995
One window. Cuban Art Exhibition, Circle of Culture Césare Pavese, Bologna.
International Mail Art Exhibition ‘Havana 95’. National Museum of Fine Arts. Havana
Salón 13 de Marzo, L Art Gallery, Havana
1994
La idea pura (Cuban Abstract Art), Teodoro Ramos Blanco Gallery. Havana.
From Pop to Post (and vice versa), International Press Center. Havana.
Miscellaneous. Jaimanitas House of Culture. Havana.
1993
That’s what we do talk about, University Student Residence. Havana.
Latin America Art Market, Spitalfield Market, London.
Latin America Alternative Open Exhibition, Tower Hamlets bussiness and visitors centre. London.
Cuban night, Weekend Arts College. London.
Cuba, Canning House. London.
Engraving Salon, Provincial Center of Plastic Arts and Design. Havana.
Small Format Salon, L Gallery.
Ephemeral Erotica, Servando Cabrera Moreno Art Gallery. Havana.
13 de Marzo Salon, L Gallery.
26 de Julio Graphic Salon. L Gallery. Havana
1992
Two Cultures Meeting, Casa de Cultura de Playa. Havana.
Ernesto Benítez, Recent Work. Marina Hemingway Residence. Havana.
Ernesto Benítez, Recent Work, Jaimanitas House of Culture. Havana
1989
Untitled. San Alejandro Academy of Fine Arts. Havana.
Intervention and mural (Wall) ‘Fe del Valle’ Park with Arte-Calle Group. (Monte street & San Rafael Boulevard corner), Municipality of Centro Habana. Havana.
1988
Untitled (Exhibition with Arte-Calle Group), San Alejandro Academy. Havana.
Intervention and Mural (Wall) Municipality 10 de Octubre. With Arte-Calle Group. Havana.
Curated Exhibitions:
2009- Reparar el Destino, by artist José Gutiérrez. Provincial Center of Plastic Arts and Design. Havana
2003- Silencio Orgánico, by Henry Navarro. Personal Exhibition and Superior Institute of Art Graduation Thesis. National Museum of Ceramics. Castle of the Royal Force. Havana
1994- Del Pop al Post y viceversa (with Omar Pascual Castillo), Collective exhibition of contemporary Cuban art. International Press Center. Havana.
Acknowledgements:
2008
2nd Prize, Sculpture-Biennial. Teodoro Ramos Gallery, Havana.
Collections:
Many of his works are included in public and private collections in Cuba, United States, Great Britain, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Panama.
Workshops:
2001-Hoy
Workshops and talks on Art and Anthropology, in different cultural institutions in Cuba and Spain.
Readings, Presentations & Others:
2022
Artisanal Printing Techniques in Artistic Engraving (With prof. Livan Padilla). ISDi, Higher Institute of Design, Havana.
2011
Art and Life History. Creation workshop given at the headquarters of the Magazine for the Arts, Barcelona.
Art and Anthropology (Life History). Presentation. Magazine for the Arts, Madrid.
2010
The critical thought of Contemporary Art and religious tolerance. IV International Meeting of Socio-Religious Studies. National Institute of Socio-Religious Studies. Havana
The International Havana Biennial in the perspective of Contemporary Art. Faculty of History and Theory of the Arts/University of the Balearic Islands
Art as Life Story. La Casona Gallery, Havana, Cuba.
Art and Religion. Jaimanitas House of Culture, Havana, Cuba.
Art and Anthropology. La Casona Gallery, Havana.
Member of the admission and awarding jury. University Art Festival. Direction of University Extension. L Gallery, Havana
2009
Art as Religion. House of Culture of Jaimanitas, Havana.
All the Names of God. La Casona Gallery, Havana.
Art and Anthropology I. Wifredo Lam Gallery, Havana.
Art and Anthropology II. Wifredo Lam Gallery, Havana.