Agustín Cárdenas facts for kids
Agustín Cárdenas Alfonso (born April 10, 1927, in Matanzas, Cuba – died February 9, 2001, in Havana, Cuba) was a famous sculptor from Cuba. He was a key part of the Surrealist art movement in Paris. His sculptures were inspired by other great artists like Constantin Brâncuși, Henry Moore, and Jean Arp. The well-known poet André Breton once said that Cárdenas's artistic touch was "efficient as a dragonfly," meaning it was very precise and graceful.
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Life and Art of Agustín Cárdenas
Agustín Cárdenas was born in Matanzas, Cuba, a big port city known for its sugar industry. His family came from people who were brought from Senegal and the Congo.
Early Life and Studies in Cuba
In Cuba, Cárdenas studied art with Juan José Sicre. From 1943 to 1949, he attended the Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes “San Alejandro” in Havana, which is a famous art school. He was also a member of two important art groups:
- Asociación de Grabadores de Cuba (AGC) from 1951 to 1955. This was a group for printmakers.
- Los Once (The Eleven) from 1953 to 1955. This was a creative group of artists.
First Exhibitions in Cuba
Cárdenas showed his artwork many times in Cuba. In 1952, he had an exhibition called "Pintura Ávila Escultura Cárdenas" at the Palacio de los Trabajadores in Havana. In 1955, he presented "Agustín Cárdenas: 20 esculturas" at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes de La Habana, which is Cuba's National Museum of Fine Arts.
Moving to Paris and Surrealism
In 1955, Cárdenas moved to Paris, France. Two years later, in 1957, he joined the Surrealist movement there. Surrealism was an art movement that explored dreams and imagination. Cárdenas's sculptures often included ideas from his African heritage and from the Dogon culture, especially their special totems.
Exhibitions Around the World
Agustín Cárdenas's art was shown in many places around the world:
- In 1987, his work was displayed at the Corea Gallery in Seoul, South Korea.
- In 1993, he had another exhibition called "Agustín Cárdenas" at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes de La Habana in Cuba.
- In 2002, after he passed away, his work was featured in "Desires and Grace" at the Haim Chanin Fine Arts Gallery in New York City.
He also took part in many group exhibitions with other artists:
- The IV Exposición Nacional de Pintura, Escultura y Grabado in Havana in 1950.
- The "Exposition Internationale du Surréalisme Eros" in Paris in 1960.
- The II Bienal Internacional de la Pequeña Escultura in Budapest, Hungary, in 1973.
- The abstract art exhibition "Tono a Tono" in Havana in 2000.
Awards and Recognition
Cárdenas received many awards for his amazing artwork:
- In 1953, he won the Segundo Premio VI Salón Nacional de Pintura y Escultura from the Cuban government.
- In 1955, he received the Silver Medal XXXVII at the Salón de Bellas Artes in Havana.
- In 1976, he was honored with the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in France. This is a very important award for artists.
- Also in 1976, he won the Fujisankey Biennal Prize in Japan.
- In 1995, he received the Premio Nacional de Artes Plásticas from the Cuban Ministry of Culture, which is a top national art prize.
Where to See His Art
You can find Agustín Cárdenas's sculptures in many important art collections around the world:
- In Paris, France:
* Centre National des Arts du Cirque * Fonds National d’Art Contemporain * Musée de la Sculpture en Plein Air
- In Saint-Étienne, France:
* Musée d’Art et d’Industrie
* Hakone Open-Air Museum
* Musée d’Art Contemporain
* Museo de Bellas Artes
- In Miami, Florida, USA:
* Kendall Art Center
- In Havana, Cuba:
* Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes de La Habana
See also
In Spanish: Agustín Cárdenas Alfonso para niños
