Lui 1969

Agustin Cardenas’s sculpture, “Lui,” embodies the artist's surrealist vision through organic abstraction. Born in Matanzas, Cuba, Cardenas navigated the cultural landscape of mid-20th century Latin America, a time of revolution, identity re-formation, and the search for authentic expression. His movement to Paris in 1955 introduced him to an artistic community deeply engaged with explorations of form and the subconscious. This sculpture invites us to consider dualities: presence and absence, the solid and the void. The dark, carved wood evokes ancestral roots and the natural world, while its abstract form transcends fixed identities. Note the sensuous curves and the interplay of light and shadow. The sculpture invites a tactile experience. In its abstraction, "Lui" encourages an open dialogue about identity. Cardenas challenges us to confront our own perceptions and biases, fostering an understanding that identities are fluid.