The Bienal de La Habana aims to consolidate a space open to art from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean, as a way to foster its exchange, the understanding of its values and to contribute to its dissemination and universal recognition.
Art from these regions accepts the challenge of universalism and of the contemporary condition based on cultures enriched by accents and nuances particular to the character of each country. These days it is of the utmost importance to compare the various ways our artists have of putting across the complex developments of cultural traditions that remain alive, as unequivocal signs of their strength and of their resources.
Consequently, the third Bienal de La Habana is being planned under the theme of ‘Tradition and Contemporaneity’, thus calling the gathered artists to show the wide range of responses this remit suggests.
The Centro Wifredo Lam will select the artists to be invited from each of the areas, in collaboration with key figures, organisations and consulting bodies.
The third Bienal de La Habana will not be based on a principle of competition. Various ministries, bodies and national and international institutions will have the chance to acquire works, individually or in sets, and this will be appropriately reflected within the exhibition spaces and the related literature.
The third Bienal de La Habana will be made up of a group of exhibitions, creative workshops, symposia, discussions, seminars and interdisciplinary activities, all arranged in connection with the Bienal’s core theme. Artists and key figures from our regions as well as other parts of the world will participate in all of these events.
The third Bienal de La Habana will take place in the city of Havana, in the months of November and December 1989.
Participation
- Artists from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America, whether or not resident in their home country.
- Those belonging to ethnocultural groups originating in these regions but who are established in other countries.
- Those born on other continents but who have been residents of Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean for at least five years.
Submission of Works
- a) Works may be submitted from the entire range of the visual arts.
- b) Each artist will be allotted a space no bigger than 6 running metres for flat works, or 20 square metres for three-dimensional works.
- c) Works should arrive mounted and ready to be exhibited. For works that may require protection, glass may not be used; instead, use plastic or another non-fragile material.
- d) When necessary, the registration form should be accompanied by instructions regarding the ordering and placement of the work/s, lighting requirements and any other details.
- e) For special assemblages, the responsible country or exhibitor will be accountable for any expenses.
- f) Works must arrive properly labelled on the back with the cards supplied by the Centro Wifredo Lam, or through some other way chosen by the artist.
- g) Works that do not comply with the requirements set out in these regulations will not be included in the exhibition.
Registration
- a) Registration and participation are free of charge. An essential requirement for participation is returning the registration form to the Centro Wifredo Lam by 31 December 1988.
- b) Artists must send registration forms in duplicate to the following address:
Third Havana Bienal 1989 Centro Wifredo Lam Oficios no.420 esq. Acosta Havana 1
Cuba
- c) The registration form will include the following information: The artist or collective’s name and address• Title and date in which the work/s was/were made• Media and dimensions
- Price/value in dollars and owner• Permission for sale• Permission to be included in travelling exhibitions
- Instructions for return
- d) The artist’s signature on the registration form implies these rules have been accepted.
The Bienal de La Habana aims to consolidate a space open to art from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean, as a way to foster its exchange, the understanding of its values and to contribute to its dissemination and universal recognition.
Art from these regions accepts the challenge of universalism and of the contemporary condition based on cultures enriched by accents and nuances particular to the character of each country. These days it is of the utmost importance to compare the various ways our artists have of putting across the complex developments of cultural traditions that remain alive, as unequivocal signs of their strength and of their resources.
Consequently, the third Bienal de La Habana is being planned under the theme of ‘Tradition and Contemporaneity’, thus calling the gathered artists to show the wide range of responses this remit suggests.
The Centro Wifredo Lam will select the artists to be invited from each of the areas, in collaboration with key figures, organisations and consulting bodies.
The third Bienal de La Habana will not be based on a principle of competition. Various ministries, bodies and national and international institutions will have the chance to acquire works, individually or in sets, and this will be appropriately reflected within the exhibition spaces and the related literature.
The third Bienal de La Habana will be made up of a group of exhibitions, creative workshops, symposia, discussions, seminars and interdisciplinary activities, all arranged in connection with the Bienal’s core theme. Artists and key figures from our regions as well as other parts of the world will participate in all of these events.
The third Bienal de La Habana will take place in the city of Havana, in the months of November and December 1989.
Participation
- Artists from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America, whether or not resident in their home country.
- Those belonging to ethnocultural groups originating in these regions but who are established in other countries.
- Those born on other continents but who have been residents of Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean for at least five years.
Catalogue
- a) In order to produce the Bienal’s catalogue, the Organising Committee requires that the following documentation be sent:
- The artist or group’s biographical information (no more than 30 lines), including date and place of birth, completed studies, solo exhibitions, events participated in, national and international awards.
- A 18 by 24 centimetres (8 by 10 inches) black-and-white photograph of each submitted work and a photographic portrait of the artist.
- b) The Organising Committee will not include credits for photographs submitted as catalogue illustrations.
- c) Documentation must be sent to the Centro Wifredo Lam before 30 March 1989.
- d) Any materials that do not reach the Organising Committee before the aforementioned date will not be included in the catalogue.
Exhibitions
- a) The third Bienal de La Habana is made up of a group of exhibitions responding to its goals and guidelines. These exhibitions will have diverse characteristics and might consolidate a theme or a specific topic, present a particular manifestation of relevant note within a geographic- cultural area or pay homage to one or various significant artists.
The Organising Committee of the third Bienal will in due course give information on the relationship between its exhibitions.
- b) The third Bienal de La Habana may choose to include other exhibitions and special displays as its Organising Committee sees fit, for the sake of creating a meaningful cultural environment.
Theory Events
Seminars, conferences and other events organised by guest specialists will take place during the third Bienal, in order that issues related to the Bienal’s theme may be debated.
Workshops
Workshops run by artists of renown within their specialisations will be run within the framework of the third Bienal.
Packaging, Shipping, Receipts and Returns
- a) The participating artist or country will cover all transport expenses, to and from Havana.
The Centro Wifredo Lam will take care of transport from Havana’s port or airport to the exhibition space, and of the reverse journey.
- b) Works should be packaged with the utmost care. The dimensions of wooden crates must not, under any circumstances, exceed 1.20 metres on two of their sides.
Lids must be screwed down and, in general, must be constructed so that they may be reused for return.
- c) Works will be allowed to arrive in Havana up until 30 June 1989 but not later, with no exceptions. They can be consigned to the third Bienal de La Habana, Centro Wifredo Lam, Oficios no.420 esq.Acosta, Havana 1, Cuba.
- d) The Centro Wifredo Lam will cover the insurance costs of the works while they remain in Cuba.
- e) Works by foreign artists will begin to be returned 60 days after the Bienal closes.
Reproductions of Works
Unless the authors or owners of works impose any limitations, the Centro Wifredo Lam will authorise the free reproduction of works by the media.
Translated by Lupe Núñez-Fernández
Editors’ Note: These regulations were published in the catalogue for the third Bienal de La Habana: Tercera Bienal de La Habana ’89 (exh. cat.), Havana: Centro Wifredo Lam and Editorial Letras Cubanas, 1989, pp.19–20.