"Cimarrรณn" (Maroon) is a tribute to one of the most powerful figures in Afro-Caribbean history, the enslaved person who chose the uncertainty of the forest over the certainty of chains. In Cuba, slavery was practiced from the 16th century until 1886. Throughout those centuries, the "cimarrรณn" became the symbol of resistance, survival and freedom.
This piece is part of "La Manigua", a series exploring the myths and historical figures of the Cuban monte (sacred wild).
Every element has a meaning. The machete, a tool of forced labor turned into a weapon of freedom. The black dog watching from the shadows was historically trained to hunt down those who escaped; whether he is a threat or a companion is left open. The spheres of light come from Cuban legend, mysterious lights that appear at night in the forest, ancient spirits guiding those who walked toward freedom. The "ajitenas", ritual symbols from Santerรญa, emerge from the spheres representing the path, the obstacles and the direction.