Artist or pedagogue? – Escambray

The work of the young art instructor Liset Fardales Portal represented Sancti Spíritus in the Escaramujo 2023 contest

In each stroke he leaves a deep mark. There are her thoughts, looks, criteria, evocations of her… she has managed to multiply in many other female faces, but in each creation she comes face to face with her most intimate essences. Liset Fardales Portal is reborn in every moment of the challenging duel with the blank cardboard.

“I consider myself a naive artist,” she says as a letter of introduction to avoid other classifications. In recent times I create images of mulatto women. And the female world is wonderful. There is so much to discover in our own strength. It has been demonstrated by the history of humanity that we are an essential link for life.”

Speak and passion is a torrent. The colors on the blank cardboard take on this speed. Through perseverance, talent and dedication, this young woman, who graduated from the second graduation of the art instructor program more than 15 years ago, has managed to master her angels and demons so that together they can dialogue in the creative act.

“I think about maintaining that line with women’s faces. Of course, in constant search for perfection because that’s what art is about: being better and better. I will add or remove one element or another, but they will be among my creations.”

These proposals have been enjoyed in personal and collective exhibitions, in-person and virtual competitions. And for some time now, this woman from Sancti Spiritus has distinguished herself as one of the art instructors with the best creative results. So much so, that her creations were present in the recent Escaramujo 2023 competition, the main moment of confluence of amateur art in Cuba.

“Unexpectedly, they made me a proposal to work together with the Museum of Archeology in Trinidad. It became the ideal space to present my works. I then began to create nature landscapes until our own history led me to investigate female figures, but, above all, to make visible the part of our tradition that leads us to the identity of our Afro-descendant ancestors.”

A little earlier Liset Fardales had already performed in different places. The Municipal Hall of Plastic Arts, sponsored by the Osvaldo Mursulí Culture House, in the city of Yayabo, is used to her name taking over the podium. acrylic on canvas The marbled guineas It gave a lot to talk about in 2020, when covid forced social networks to take by storm.

“In Trinidad I also personally presented my creations. Additionally, I participated in the Ibero-American Culture Festival, in Holguín, and I have accepted the invitation to exhibit, virtually, in Peru, Mexico and Argentina. Of course, in Sancti Spíritus I have been present. “I recently had the joy of winning a prize at the Fayad Jamís Municipal Hall of Illustrated Poetry.”

Along with the colored lines that create diverse figures, there is teaching, that other half that has never stopped accompanying this young woman. Many people do not know how she organizes her time, but Liset has managed to navigate both paths successfully.

“When I graduated from the School of Art Instructors they placed me in teaching kindergarten. Then I worked in a primary school and later in the pedagogical school, but I really like working with early childhood, so I returned. I currently work in the La Age de Oro children’s daycare center, in the Popular Council of Colón, in the city of Sancti Spíritus.

“With that age group we work more on creation, which is the main objective of us instructors. There are educators who do a lot for the plastic arts, they create and with great quality. In those early ages talent is molded, taught to appreciate and create. I really enjoy it a lot.”

In that regard, are there many experiences?

“Yes, especially with the families, because they support me. There are little ones who, although they like to draw, don’t have the talent, but that doesn’t mean anything. According to the level, they are helped to gain skills and, above all, learn to appreciate art.”

For Liset it is gratifying to walk through the streets and come face to face with the offspring of her first works. She has been that other key to staying active in training.

“They greet me and sometimes I haven’t recognized them. Facial features change as they grow. But it’s enough for them to talk, for them to tell me some anecdote and I immediately find my bearings. Among so many, I never forget a girl from the José Martí primary school. While I explained the exercise, she was able to do it. That’s something that really impacted me because it doesn’t always happen.”

If you had to choose between Liset the artist or Liset the educator, which one would you choose?

Artist or pedagogue? You put me between a rock and a hard place because I like both. I bet on wearing both in unison. So much so that I work with naive art and boys and girls inspire me because their art is naive.

After attending Escaramujo 2023, the showcase of the work of the Brigade of Art Instructors, what projects do you have?

I have several projects in mind, but being pregnant and enjoying my maternity leave I have had to postpone them a little. Creation and teaching will never cease to be in my life. I was not able to attend Havana during the days of the Escaramujo event, but the work, according to the networks, was well received and that makes me feel very happy. What I have left is to continue working.