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| Francisco Rene Born in 1960 in Holguin, Cuba. Lives and works in Havana. To give is to receive. At dawn, when water would come to Benita Rivero’s house, located in a dilapidated alley in a neighborhood of La Habana named Buena Vista, she had the irksome task of keeping it and making it last, mug after mug, bucket after bucket, for the two days that it would take for water to come again. When it rained, Benita’s misfortune increased; because the walls became wet, the humidity soaked the furniture, rusted her belongings and affected her bones. In a vision similar to an annunciation, a fairy or an angel appeared to Benita, probably due to her seemingly unceasing wait, good fortune or because I was able to find her after my long walks and searches. This artistic experience belongs to that diffuse field where art attempts to enter into, or interfere, in everyday life. Entering a private environment requires its protagonists to make temporary sacrifices before being able to arrive at mutual gratification. I think that, despite the modest and grateful tolerance of this old woman, -who is amazed at the solution to the serious problem of her house- my annoying presence inside of her home discreetly prevailed. It was necessary that we were both able to relinquish our usual comforts during the course of the work. My concession was to apply Benita’s wishes delicately and respectfully. An artist that works directly with people’s feelings has no right to impose upon them his personal whims, his ways, or his style. At first my artistic status, loaded with power, comes and controls everything with a clear intention to reach mutual satisfaction. But it is the recipient who will actually determine the transformation that occurs. Benita obtains the improvement of her roof, the circulation of running water and the satisfaction of acquiring a more pleasant life. I get a theme for my work, the pleasure of planning a hydraulic system tailored to the place, amazing photographs and a great experience of a practice that is specific to art. René Francisco  Download CV |  Agua Benita/Benita’s Water, 2008-2009 Patio de Nin (Nin’s backyard), 2005-2006 A la casza de Rosa, 2003 |
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