Alejandro González
1971

1971

© 2015 Alejandro González Méndez

1971
1971
CultureCuban
Titles
  • 1971
  • from the series Quinquenio gris
  • from the series Grey Five Years
Date2015
MediumInkjet print
DimensionsImage: 11 3/4 × 20 13/16 in. (29.8 × 52.9 cm)
Sheet: 14 7/16 × 23 9/16 in. (36.7 × 59.8 cm)
Credit LineThe Madeleine P. Plonsker Collection, museum purchase funded by the Caroline Wiess Law Accessions Endowment
Object number2022.528.1
Current Location
The Nancy and Rich Kinder Building
Gallery 314
Exposé

Explore Further

Department
Photography
Object Type
Description

With archival photographs or written historical accounts as his source and corrugated cardboard and lead figures as his materials, Alejandro González created dioramas that revisit one telling moment in each of the five years, 1971 to 1975, that marked Cuba’s increased reliance on the USSR and the adoption of Soviet economic, educational, military, and political models. The photograph 1971 re-creates Castro’s address to the First National Congress of Education and Culture, where repressive policies were established regarding education, religion, sexuality, mass media, fashion, and customs.

 

Alejandro González construyó modelos de cartón corrugado y figuras de plomo que recrean hechos significativos ocurridos entre 1971 y 1975,  para ello se basó en fotografías de archivo y relatos históricos. Cada una corresponde a un año de esta etapa, marcada por el aumento de la dependencia de Cuba de la URSS y la adopción de modelos económicos, educativos, militares y políticos soviéticos. La fotografía 1971 recrea el discurso de Castro en el Primer Congreso Nacional de Educación y Cultura, donde se estable- cieron políticas represivas respecto a la educación, la religión, la sexualidad, los medios de comunicación, la moda y las costumbres.


ProvenanceThe artist, Havana, Cuba; purchased by Madeleine P. Plonsker, Glencoe, Illinois, 2017; purchased by MFAH, 2022.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
.1: Inscribed in pencil, verso, bottom edge: 1/1 de la serie "Quinquenio Gris": 1971 Ale Glez [signed] // 2015
Signed in pencil, verso, bottom right: Ale Grez

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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1975
Alejandro González
2015
Inkjet print
2022.528.5
1974
Alejandro González
2015
Inkjet print
2022.528.4
1973
Alejandro González
2015
Inkjet print
2022.528.3
1972
Alejandro González
2015
Inkjet print
2022.528.2
9 de noviembre de 1989
Alejandro González
2012
Inkjet print
2022.529
Quinquenio gris
Alejandro González
2015
Inkjet prints, cardboard handmade box
2022.528.1-.5
2:57 am, 24 de dic de 2005, Vedado, La Habana, Cuba
Alejandro González
2005
Inkjet print
2022.525
10:09pm, 21 de abril del 2005, Playa, La Habana, Cuba
Alejandro González
2005
Inkjet print
2022.524
2024.254
Alejandro González
2008
Chromogenic print
2024.254
2024.253
Alejandro González
2008
Chromogenic print
2024.253
from the series Conducta impropia
Alejandro González
2008
Chromogenic print
2022.527
2:57 a.m., 24 de diciembre de 2005, Vedado, La Habana, Cuba
Alejandro González
2005
Chromogenic print
2024.252