Ariamna Contino
Havana, Cuba, 1984
Ariamna Contino's work is based on the ritualistic and extremely meticulous technique of "openwork paper". Her procedure, whose origin can be found in the tradition of engraving, contrasts with the themes she deals with: they are related to controversial and paradigmatic phenomena that can be found in the dense plot of the socio-political reality of the contemporary world. She is seduced to investigate conflicts and issues that are tangential to the narratives currently defended by contemporary states within their self-conceptualizations. From the analysis of statistics and data of all kinds, he develops demanding investigations that he generally approaches from a transdisciplinary perspective: chemistry, quantum physics, anthropology, sociology, materials technology, biology, history, geopolitics, art history, linguistics, among other fields of encyclopedic knowledge. In his imaginary we can identify as core themes the "narco-aesthetics", the illegal trafficking of substances, goods and people, the underwater economies of Latin America, the trade of classified information, among others. Recently, he has approached interstitial zones between the natural world and contemporary culture. From there he ventures into sharp approaches to national identity.
He has participated in the Venice Biennial and the Havana Biennial. His work has been presented in institutions and museums such as the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes (MNBA), Cuba; the Museum of Concrete Art in Ingolstadt, Germany; and the Museum of the Americas (USA). To this must be added a wide range of personal and group exhibitions such as Adquisiciones 2019-2020 (MNBA, Havana, Cuba); Deriva (Galería Habana, Havana, Cuba); Nada personal (MNBA, Havana, Cuba); Diagramas pintados. Bauhaus, art and infographics (Museum für Konkrete Kunst in Ingolstadt, Germany); Requiem for a failed state end (Contemporary Art Center, Germany); The Cuban Matrix (Torrance Art Museum, USA); Co-lectiva (Centro Cultural Montecarmelo, Chile). His work is part of important institutional collections such as the Pérez Art Museum (PAMM), Miami; the Gilbert Brownstone Foundation, Wisconsin; the National Museum of Fine Arts, Havana; and the Ella Cisneros Collection, Miami.
curriculum
Studies
2004
Specialty in engraving, San Alejandro Academy of Fine Arts, Havana, Cuba.
2006
Camera studies and audiovisual production, Ludwig de Cuba Foundation, Havana. Cuba.
2007
Documentary filmmaking program, N.Y.U., Tisch School of the Arts, New York, USA.
Personal exhibitions
2024
Manigua, El Apartamento, Madrid, Spain
2024
Atlas of the Delirium, Andreas Binder, Munich, Germany (Bi-personal exhibition with Alex Hernández)
2023
ReverseNunu Fine Art NY, New York, USA.
2022
Dual Solo ExhibitionsW Glass Project x Nunu Fine Art, Taipei, Taiwan.
2021
Ariamna Contino and Alex HernandezNunu FIne Art, Taipei, Taiwan.
2019
Alex Hernandez and Ariamna Contino. B312 gallery, Montreal, Canada.
2018
Inconclusive weft. NG Art gallery, Panama City, Panama.
2017
Drift. Habana Gallery, Havana, Cuba.
2016
Aesthetic Militancy. Gallerie Andreas Binder, Munich, Germany (Bi-personal exhibition with Alex Hernandez)
2015
Road to EdenZona Franca, Collateral exhibition to the XII Havana Biennial, San Carlos de la Cabaña Fort, Havana, Cuba.
2014
AtlasHabana Gallery, Havana, Cuba.
collective exhibitions
Kaléidoscopes-Cuba: Regards ContemporainsGalleria Continua, Les Moulins, France.
2023
"Das grosse Tableau / The Big Picture".", HALLE 14, Zentrum für zeitgenössische Kunst, Leipzig, Germany.
White LayersPAAP, Pan American Art Projects, Miami, Florida, USA.
You know who you areThe Space 23, Miami, USA.
Artists in production, Estudio 50, Havana, Cuba.
PlantationIslandSPACE Caribbean Museum, Miami, USA.
Cuba in Sacrow, in the labyrinth of time, Sacrow Castle, Berlin, Germany.
Behind the WallHispano-American Center of Culture, Havana, Cuba.
Acquisitions 2019-2020, National Museum of Fine Arts of Havana, Havana, Cuba.
The weight of an Island in the love of a peopleLa Sindical in collaboration with Florafairbairn, Online exhibition.
Matter of the Mind, The Olympia Project, Online exhibition.
Nothing Personal, National Museum of Fine Arts of Havana, XIII Havana Biennial, Havana, Cuba.
Painted diagrams. Bauhaus, art and infographics, Museum für Konkrete Kunst of Ingolstadt, Germany.
The labyrinth is entered from the side, The apartment, Havana, Cuba.
No more. Says the hard, Nunu Fine Art Gallery, Taipei, Taiwan.
Detrás del Muro (Behind the Wall), site specific in the Malecón of Havana, XIII Havana Biennial, Havana, Cuba.
2016
Assembly 2Estudio Taller Gorría. Havana Cuba. Strength and Blood, Cuba Pavilion, Havana Cuba.
2015
New ColorsRobert Miller Gallery. New York, USA Behind The Wall II. Collateral exhibition to the XII Havana Biennial. Malecon and Genius. Havana, Cuba.
Stealing Base: Cuba at BatLouisville Slugger Museum & Factory. Kentucky, USA
2014
Stealing Base: Cuba at BatOglethorpe University Museum of Art, Atlanta, USA.
30th Anniversary of the Havana BiennialCenter for the Development of Visual Arts. Havana, Cuba.
Behind The WallThe Rockefeller Brothers Fund. New York, USA.
2013
Behind The WallThe 8th Floor. New York, USA.
BridgeHelen Day Art Center. Stowe, EE.UU.
Stealing Base: Cuba at BatThe 8th Floor. New York, USA.
Baseball ClassicsICAIC Film Cultural Center. Havana, Cuba.
2012
The right art sport 2Espacio Abierto Gallery. Havana, Cuba.
Maretti AwardWifredo Lam Contemporary Art Center. Havana, Cuba.
Pinta, The Modern & Contemporary Latin American Art Show. New York, USA
Houston Fine Art FairReliant Center. Houston, USA
Behind the wall. XI Havana Biennial. Marina and Malecon. Havana, Cuba.
Art ShanghaiLatin-American Pavillon (LAP). Shanghai, China.
Scope 21Third edition of the Latin American Photographic Day, Casa Oswaldo Guayasamín. Havana, Cuba.
Collective photography exhibition, Miramar Genesis Gallery. Havana, Cuba.
2011
Unique Art Auction, Panama, Panama. XX Great Auction of Excellencies, San Felipe Foundation. Panama, Panama.
2010
ProphecyGallery 23 and 12. Havana, Cuba.
2005
MotivesMariano Rodriguez Gallery. Havana, Cuba.
TributeBenito Juarez Memorial House. Havana, Cuba.
2004
The magic of thingsMariano Rodriguez Gallery. Havana, Cuba.
2003
SempervivensCasa de la Cultura Plaza de la Revolución, Havana, Cuba. Havana, Cuba.
2001
Photography and NatureServando Cabrera Moreno Gallery. Havana, Cuba.
SempervivensMuseum of Colonial Art. Havana, Cuba.
Photography and NatureEditorial Pablo de la Torriente. Havana, Cuba.
2000
Day of the DeadBenito Juarez Memorial House. Havana, Cuba.
1999
ApproachGreen Brigade. Havana, Cuba. NaturalismJosé A. Díaz Peláez Gallery. Havana, Cuba.
1998
Progressive CarnivalGreen Brigade. Havana, Cuba.
collections
National Museum of Fine Arts of Havana, Havana, Cuba.
National Council of Plastic Arts collection, Havana, Cuba.
Pérez Art Museum, Miami, USA.
Jorge Pérez Collection, Miami, USA.
Ella Cisneros Collection, Miami, USA.
Gilbert Brownstone Collection, Paris, France.
Robert Funcker New Issenburg Collection, Germany.
Celia Sredni de Birbragher collection (Director of Art Nexus), Colombia.
works
Ariamna Contino
Ipomoea and Mandevilla plant, from the series Manigua, 2025
Hand-cut paper / Fabriano 300 g Cold Press acid-free watercolor cardboard and museum glass
83 x 83 cm (32.7 x 32.7 in)
Ariamna Contino
Licuala with fruit, from the series Manigua, 2025,
Hand-cut paper / Fabriano 300 g Cold Press acid-free watercolor cardboard and museum glass
203 x 153 cm (80 x 60.2 in)
Ariamna Contino
Swelling of the reservoir, from the series Manigua, 2025,
Hand-cut paper / Fabriano 300 g Cold Press acid-free watercolor cardboard and museum glass,
205 x 155 cm (80.7 x 61 in)
Ariamna Contino
Licuala with fruit, from the series Manigua, 2025,
Hand-cut paper / Fabriano 300 g Cold Press acid-free watercolor cardboard and museum glass
203 x 153 cm (80 x 60.2 in)
Ariamna Contino
Swelling of the reservoir, from the series Manigua, 2025,
Hand-cut paper / Fabriano 300 g Cold Press acid-free watercolor cardboard and museum glass,
205 x 155 cm (80.7 x 61 in)
Ariamna Contino
Pond,
from the Natural Filters series,
2023,
Hand-cut paper (Stramore Cold Press cardboard 300 gsm),
189 x 129 cm
Mangrove in bloom,
from the Natural Filters series,
2023,
Hand-cut paper (Stramore Cold Press cardboard 300 gsm), 125 x 125 cm
Poppies,
from the Garden of Earthly Delights series,
2023,
Hand-cut paper (Stramore Cold Press cardboard 300 gsm), 125 x 125 cm
Ariamna Contino
Salvia divinorum,
from the Garden of Earthly Delights series,
2023,
Hand-cut paper (Stramore Cold Press cardboard 300 gsm), 53 x 73 x 5 cm
Ariamna Contino
Malangueta,
of the Manigua series,
2023,
Hand-cut paper (Stramore Cold Press cardboard 300 gsm), 83 x 109 x 7 cm
Ariamna Contino
Scrubland,
of the Manigua series,
2023,
Hand-cut paper (Stramore Cold Press cardboard 300 gsm), 125 x 125 cm
Ariamna Contino
Penance,
2019,
Installation
Ariamna Contino & Alex Hernandez
Mirage, 2017
Installation
Ariamna Contino
Páramo, 2019
Installation