‘A space to breathe art’ – and other airs
By Aurelio Pedroso
HAVANA – The moral of the story usually appears at the end of the story, but in this case, I will point out that this story demonstrates that the Cuban people’s inborn ability to undertake new projects on their own deserves the total and definitive elimination of the obstacles, prejudices, fears, whims and 27 other reasons that are causing old-fashioned bureaucrats and politicians to head for the grave.
It all began in an ordinary garage, 3 by 7 meters, less than a year ago, when a man who can’t be over 40 chose to quit his job as a lawyer and work full time in the arts, teaching a specialty that has brought him far.
Yasser Lezcano Hernández graduated from Law School in 1994 and earned a Masters degree in computer sciences. He has a peculiar bent toward photography, perhaps inherited from a grandfather, a news photographer who in 1930 captured the moment that assassins killed student leader Rafael Trejo, during Gerardo Machado’s administration.
With his family’s support, Yasser has begun a project that I’ll call educational-commercial. The technical part of it is also done in other countries, but his brand seems to have a peculiar “know-how” that he chooses to keep secret.
“This place was created to breathe art,” he says.
The educational part consists in giving free classes, theoretical and practical, about photography applied to ceramics. Some 20 youngsters show up punctually every Saturday at his singular shop, whose funding comes from “the prof,” as the children call him.
It was difficult for me to decide who was happier because of that initiative, whether it was the children, the parents or Yasser himself, who, without professional training in pedagogy, teaches and also learns.
Combining didactic and entrepreneurial work has had good results. At this moment, an important hotel in Varadero has given him a contract for artistic ceramics for more than 200 rooms. They’ll pay well for them, for sure, and they’ll also cover any taxes or fees he has to pay the government.
LezKno, his artistic name, rejects any offer, profitable though it might be, if it can’t carry his personal imprint in the creation of unique pieces. As to the controversial definitions of art, his explanation is very personal: “Art is not taught. You carry it inside.”
Daniel León is one of the more skilled students. His photographs are in the first exhibition of the small gallery. A book of visitors’ comments is more than enough to demonstrate how useful this project is.
There is no better proof of Lezcano’s progress and perspectives than the visits by personalities of culture and politics that he entertains with some frequency. They have already offered to create a shop for him in Old Havana, the tourist-thronged section of the capital.
Yasser Lezcano Hernández is a palpable, “live” example of what’s happening in Cuba, a movement whose name has scared many: private initiative.
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