image © carlos garaicoa, courtesy of east central gallery

carlos garaicoa: the point, the line and the plan at: east central gallery, 23 bateman row, shoreditch, london from: 2 oct – 7 nov, 2009

for its inaugural show, east central gallery in london will present ‘the point, the line and the plan’, an exhibition of new works by the cuban artist carlos garaicoa. this will be garaicoa’s first solo show in london.

carlos garaicoa at the east central gallery, london image © carlos garaicoa, courtesy of east central gallery

garaicoa takes the initial ideas of architecture, politics and power, and through his artwork, provides a platform to provoke debate around these issues. in his constant search for representation of a complex yet subtle political stance, the artist utilises photographs on metal and stucco, videos, drawing boards populated with delicate paper cuts, sculpture and lightbox installations.

carlos garaicoa at the east central gallery, london image © carlos garaicoa, courtesy of east central gallery

‘the visual arts, like literature, music, or any other artistic language, are platforms on which to discuss social and political issues, and for exercising our critical commitment towards society. I believe in art that is still capable of creating meaning, where the role of an artist and an intellectual as bearer of that meaning is the most important component. supreme beauty can originate and be extracted from that social commitment.’ – carlos garaicoa

carlos garaicoa at the east central gallery, london image © carlos garaicoa, courtesy of east central gallery

havana, garaicoa’s birth city is at the heart of his research and is used as a metaphor for human existence. having spent the past two decades exploring the concept of architecture as a measure of society, garaicoa draws parallels between social idealism and reality, and illustrates the story of the city from the grandeur of the past to the decadence of today.

carlos garaicoa at the east central gallery, london detail

carlos garaicoa at the east central gallery, london un día cualquiera en que la habana se detuvo a recordar berlín, 2009 – image © carlos garaicoa, courtesy of east central gallery

carlos garaicoa at the east central gallery, london from the series to transform the political speech in facts, finally (II), 2009 – image © carlos garaicoa, courtesy of east central galleryprevious works by carlos garaicoa:

carlos garaicoa at the east central gallery, london untitled work by carlos garaicoa, 2004

carlos garaicoa at the east central gallery, london untitled work by carlos garaicoa, 2004