“La vie devrait être belle” (Life Should Be Beautiful) is the name of this major exhibition dedicated to Cuban artist Manuel Mendive Hoyo, running from July 4 to August 24, 2025.
At 81 years old, Manuel Mendive has inspired many artists on his native island of Cuba and elsewhere in the world. This major exhibition, organized by the Fondation Clément, located in the town of Le François in Martinique, is a journey spanning some 50 years through the works of the famous visual artist. Always dressed in white and initiated into the Yoruba cult, Mendive is heavily influenced by Afro-Cuban mythologies drawn from Santeria and his travels in West Africa.
“Presented in the foundation’s three rooms through paintings, soft sculptures, bronzes, installation objects, and costumes covering works from the 1970s to the present day, this exhibition allows us to fully immerse ourselves in the depth and richness of one of the most important artistic voices in Cuba and the world, undoubtedly comparable with great names such as Wifredo Lam and Agustín Cárdenas”, says curator Gilbert Brownstone.
To celebrate the artist’s work, the Fondation Clément is organizing several free events, particularly during the month of July:
– guided tours (Sunday, July 20 and 27 at 10:00 am)
– tours for children (Tuesday, July 22 at 10:00 am, ages 6-12 / Tuesday, July 29 at 10:00 am, ages 0-3)
– creative workshops inspired by fairy tales. “The work of artist Manuel Mendive often illustrates Cuban tales and mythologies. He depicts them in images that waver between reality and imagination, thus blending our world with that of the Santeria deities and characters from Caribbean tales. After a short tour of the exhibition, we will put in image our own tales like Mendive”. (Friday, July 18 at 10:00 am, fabric collage)
– creative workshops inspired by deities and mythologies (Thursday, July 24 at 10:00 am, creation all in blue using different materials / Friday, July 25 at 10:00 am, watercolor painting). “Like Manuel Mendive, who explores the visual language of Santería to bring mythical figures to life, we will reinvent contemporary characters inspired by figures from different cultures such as Yemaya, goddess of the ocean, Mami Wata, West African deity, Manman Dlo from Caribbean legends, and even the mermaid from European tales. By relying on their universal visual language, we celebrate strength, diversity, and freedom of identities”.
