La cosa está mala 2008
Contemporary art in Cuba seems on one hand to be flourishing, with studios all over Havana asking you to come in and have a look at some brightly-colored, expressive 
paintings– all done rather skillfully. They start to look the same after a while. However, Carlos Quintana had a show up (in a proper gallery, no less) that really impressed me.
Quintana was born in Havana in 1966 and went to art school there. I found that he moved to Madrid, where he currently resides, in 1993. The large canvases with bright washes and splatters of color that he uses belie the darker undercurrent of his figures. In the work below, he slaps on paint in a manner more violent than cartoonish, and the size of the canvas (79 x 79 in.) can overwhelm. Yet the Senorita’s innocent expression and sea foam green dress add a wistfulness to the composition.
I think there is a vein of melancholy in a lot of Latin art.
I loved learning about this Cuban artist & appreciated seeing the large body of his work on Artnet. His figures have a haunting beauty. I am sure they must be very impressive to see in full scale.
I think I agree with you ArtSparker.
Sally, I’m glad you liked his work too. It lucky his work is up there and that he exhibits outside Cuba. I don’t think there would be an online reservoir for his work otherwise.
I agree with ArtSparker as well. While I see a great deal of melancholy there, I also see/feel a slight bite of happiness behind those pensive looking figures in his work. Love this piece the best:
http://www.artnet.com/artwork/426048223/217/carlos-quintana-animal-desmesurado.html