Museo Nacional de Arte Decorativo, Havana, Cuba

Following her participation in the 12th Havana Biennial, Beatriz Gerenstein was invited to present a solo exhibition at the prestigious National Museum of Decorative Arts (Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas) in Havana, Cuba. The exhibition was held from December 8, 2015, through January 6, 2016, in the museum's invitational exhibition wing.

 

Titled The Old and the New (Lo Nuevo y lo Viejo), the exhibition took its name from one of Gerenstein’s most emblematic sculptures, selected as the central work of the show. The piece reflects on the enduring tension between established structures and the powerful drive toward transformation and renewal.

 

In The Old and the New, Gerenstein employs a visual language that is both symbolic and accessible. Two bent and weathered bronze forms, marked by wrinkles and traces of time, stand in contrast to a third form that emerges strong, luminous, and pristine. Through this juxtaposition, the sculpture evokes the inevitable passage of time, the evolution of societies, and the continuous dialogue between tradition and change. With subtle humor and poetic sensitivity, the work invites reflection on the challenges and opportunities that accompany every process of renewal.

 

The exhibition also featured a selection of sculptures exploring themes that are central to Gerenstein’s artistic practice, including human connection, love, friendship, spirituality, feminine strength, and social engagement. Through organic forms and expressive compositions, the works encouraged visitors to reflect on shared human experiences and the values that unite us.

 

The exhibition space offered a compelling setting for the sculptures. Surrounded by large windows overlooking the museum’s historic gardens, the contemporary works entered into a dynamic dialogue with the architecture and atmosphere of the nearly century-old palace, creating a rich visual contrast between heritage and modernity—an echo of the exhibition’s central theme.