Machine City: The Metaphor of Power and Oppression from a Cuban Perspective
From the earliest days of my life, I grew up under the shadow of a regime where power is omnipresent and absolute. I was born and raised in Cuba, a country ruled by a communist dictatorship that permeates every aspect of daily life. This experience of living under an oppressive regime has been a fundamental influence on my artistic work, and it is the driving force behind my series "Machine City."
"Machine City" is not just a visual creation; it is a manifestation of my experiences, a symbolic representation of the machinery of power that controls and defines the lives of those who, like me, have lived under totalitarian regimes. This series of ink drawings on paper stems from the need to express what it means to live in a system where freedom is an illusion and control is a constant and inescapable reality.
The origin of this series lies in a collection of poems I wrote, titled "The Parable." These poems tell the story of how a machine began with the first machine that connected Adam and Eve to man. However, this story is an allegory for something much deeper: the suffocating power of systems that subjugate individuals. In "The Parable," the machine grows, expands, and over time becomes a city—a "Machine City" that symbolizes the oppression wielded by power over human beings.
Growing up in Cuba, I witnessed how the regime controlled every aspect of our lives. Freedom of expression was nonexistent, and any form of dissent was quickly quashed. This experience left an indelible mark on my worldview and, consequently, on my art. Through "Machine City," I explore how these power structures grow and strengthen to the point where people can no longer distinguish between the machine and the reality they live in.
The drawings in "Machine City" represent this insidious growth of the machinery of control. Every line, every shadow in my drawings, is a reflection of the complexity and omnipresence of this system. At first, the machine is something that man can see and understand, but as it grows, it becomes something that transcends human comprehension, an entity that controls people's lives in an invisible but total way.
After emigrating to the United States, this perception did not disappear; on the contrary, it acquired new dimensions. Although the reality in the United States is different from that in Cuba, there also exists a machinery of power, a network of control that manifests in more subtle but equally effective ways. As an immigrant, I found myself facing new forms of oppression, less obvious but equally draining. "Machine City" also speaks to these experiences, exploring how the machinery of power adapts and evolves, regardless of the context in which it finds itself.
In my drawings, the human figure appears trapped, surrounded by gears and mechanisms that seem to have a life of their own. This reflects the helplessness I felt living under a totalitarian regime and the helplessness many feel being trapped in systems that dehumanize them and reduce them to mere cogs in a machine. The "Machine City" not only grows in size, but it also becomes an entity that consumes the will and identity of those caught within it.
Each work in this series is a testament to my experience and an attempt to capture the struggle between the individual and the oppressive machinery of power. By using ink on paper, I seek to create strong, defined contrasts that symbolize the duality of living under a regime where the lines between freedom and oppression are blurred and often nonexistent. Ink, with its ability to create deep shadows and sharp contours, is the perfect medium to express the suffocating nature of the "Machine City."
Nevertheless, "Machine City" is not merely a representation of despair; it is also a call to resistance. In creating these drawings, my intention is to awaken critical awareness in the viewer. I want those who contemplate my work to confront the machinery surrounding them, to recognize its presence, and to begin questioning it. It is only through this act of recognition and resistance that we can begin to dismantle this machinery, piece by piece, and reclaim our freedom and humanity.
My works seek to transcend the physical plane and touch the deepest fibers of the human soul. Every stroke is a reflection of the internal struggle we all face when confronting the realities of a world dominated by power. Through "Machine City," I invite the viewer to join this struggle, to explore the gears of this oppressive machinery, and to find their own path to freedom.
In this sense, "Machine City" is more than a series of drawings; it is a deep exploration of the human condition under the yoke of oppressive systems. Through this work, I attempt to reveal the complexities of our modern existence and offer a critical reflection on power, manipulation, and the possibility of redemption. I invite every viewer to immerse themselves in this world, to explore the details of the machinery, and to find their own interpretation of the message I am trying to convey.
Ultimately, my art is a form of communication, a way of expressing what is often difficult to put into words. In "Machine City," each drawing is a piece of a larger puzzle, a part of a story that continues to evolve and that, hopefully, will inspire others to see the world differently.