ABEL BARROSO (b. 1971)

En las mismas aguas was created prior to the tumultuous events of the 1994 Cuban rafter crisis, constituting a pivotal component of the artist's profound contemplation into the migratory undertakings characterizing the Cuban landscape throughout the 1990s.
This artistic installation comprises five intricately crafted woodcut prints along with their corresponding woodcut matrices, meticulously arranged in a circular formation. The matrices find their place adorning the gallery wall, while the woodcut prints gracefully occupy the gallery floor.
Each nautical vessel within this evocative assemblage bears a title in Spanish—namely, Al filo de la creación, Venciendo obstáculos, Los titanes, Historias omitidas, and Vigilante. These titles, thoughtfully chosen, establish a contemplative parallel between artistic creation and the multifaceted realities of the emigration experience.
En las mismas aguas navigates in ceaseless circles, emblematic of the utopian quest for a more promising abode. Within this perpetual circling, the piece poignantly encapsulates the myriad consequences borne of the perilous endeavor and the stark reality of failing to reach a definitive destination, thereby commencing yet another journey anew.