Gerardo Mosquera on the Third Havana Biennial's Global Impact

Gerardo Mosquera, a founder of the Bienal de La Habana, reflects on its third edition in 1989, arguing the event's historical role in transforming global art circulation is underrecognized. The biennial, suggested by Fidel Castro and triggered by Wifredo Lam's death in 1982, was the fourth biennial established (after Venice, São Paulo, Sydney). The 1989 edition eliminated national representation and awards, introduced a general theme of tradition and contemporaneity in Third World art and design, and included diaspora artists from Europe and North America. Mosquera details the biennial's structure as an 'organism' of exhibitions, conferences, and workshops, with free entry and citywide involvement. He critiques later editions for becoming market-oriented and losing their radical edge, citing censorship of Cuban artists and the 2003 incident with Priscilla Monge that led the Prince Claus Fund to withdraw support. Mosquera resigned after 1989 due to disagreements with the event's direction and increasing repression of critical Cuban artists, including Ángel Delgado's jail sentence. The essay was first presented at a 2009 symposium in London.