From the ArtistMientras Más Atrás Se Mire, Más Claro Se Ve (The Farther Back You Look, the Clearer You See), by the Cuban photographer Pedro Abascal, honors his main orisha, Eleguá. The vertical composition shows a photomontage of an animal skeleton fused with the orisha's head over an elongated human hand, framed by the colors of Eleguá to indicate his ownership of roads and ability to open doors for communication with other orishas. Abascal, who came to prominence during Cuba's Special Period (1991–2000), was introduced to his orisha via La Regla de Ocha (“The Order of Orishas,” the formal name of Santería).
This print deals with the idea of time and my roots which I found in Afro-Cuban religion named Osha, based upon the idea of honoring our ancestors. The black and red colors of my main orisha [a spirit manifestation of Olodumare–God], Eleguá, he is the owner of the roads and the guardian of the doors.
Maferefun Eggin, Maferefun Eleguá [Praise the Spirits, Praise Eleguá]
—From Brandywine Workshop and Archives records
Artist and self-taught photographer Pedro Abascal was born in Havana, Cuba. In addition to being a visual-artist, he has worked as a photojournalist, commercial photographer, and photographer for film. He has participated in numerous group exhibit...
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