Tres retratos 1987 mimeograph, collage and mixed media, 8 x 11 inches, each (series of 12). The Cuban Heritage Collection at the University of Miami, Coral Gables.
The work reiterates a pattern of three alter egos representing the artist’s personality. These are depicted in three portraits—arranged from left to right: one in profile with a conventional haircut that highlights his European features; a frontal view in the center featuring unkempt, curly hair that emphasizes his Afro-Cuban traits; and a third profile view with partially shaved hair in a punk-new-wave style, sporting a “mohawk.” Each is presented as a bust featuring a blank label that is filled with text. Each mammogram print was modified using various techniques and “commented upon” with references to different identities, personalities, or themes—alluding to the society of that time and touching on subjects such as the art world mainstream, fashion, and politics, while frequently citing fellow artists. The work also incorporates—arbitrarily and humorously—references to international contemporary art, such as Jonathan Borofsky’s numerology, alongside names of local cultural figures like Luis Carbonell. The series sarcastically addresses phenomena related to the cultural blending characteristic of the Caribbean island, mocking artistic and pseudo-intellectual posturing; numerous unintentional grammatical errors have now become part of that playful, irreverent spirit.