Cesar Santalo, dean of the College of Communication and Design at Lynn University, is an internationally renowned and award-winning artist. Santalo's creative works have been the centerpiece of various projects, including documentaries, award shows and art exhibitions.
Now, Santalo's work can be seen on the big screen. On Sept. 19, 2023, the documentary film Patria y Vida: The Power of Music was nominated for a Latin Grammy award in the "Best Long Video" category. The film's signature piece features Santalo's original creation, a striking mural titled "349." Like so much of his collage work, the mural seamlessly weaves the visual aesthetics of contemporary Cuba and Cuban artists while offering a visual narrative that complements each chapter of the documentary.
Read more about how Santalo created the feature piece for the documentary in a recent Q&A session:
Tell us the events that led you to be involved in this film.
I have been doing collage work for over 30 years, so many people know me through my work. It was Grace Gonzalez, the art director of the documentary, whom I've worked with before at Telemundo. She recommended me to the producers of the documentary because—like my collage work—the topic of the documentary is something I've been involved with for many years. The film deals with human rights issues that many Cubans face. While pursuing my M.F.A. in the early 2000s at the University of Miami, I began to truly find my voice as an artist by telling the stories of the Cuban exile community and my own. I felt my voice was unique and authentic. Ironically, I was not born in Cuba and have never been there, though my parents are Cuban refugees.
I ended up having lunch with Beatriz Luengo, the documentary's director, to discuss the film. Beatriz and her husband, Yotuel Romero, won the 2021 Latin Grammys for "Best Urban Song" and "Song of the Year" for "Patria y Vida," the documentary's theme song. The documentary is a journey of the song, so I thought creating a mural that embodies the theme song's journey would be the perfect accent to visualize the story.
How did you create your collage mural for the film?
I mapped out all the chapters from the documentary onto the mural. When you see the mural, you'll notice that one section is about the balseros (Cuban refugees who travel to America by sea) from the '80s, another section is about human rights, and it goes on from there as a living, breathing piece of work. The director and producers used the mural to add a layer of visual texture between scenes to depict the Cuban aesthetic clearly.
I utilized yarn, string, pins, and Polaroid-like photos, either stuck or pinned to the wall, simulating a crime or evidence wall. I used the string to interconnect layers of images and writings, depicting a trail of evidence.
When I saw the film for the first time, I was in shock! I had no idea that it would be one of the central characters of the film.
How did you build a work of art without knowing its impact on the film?
For me, it doesn't matter whether it's for the big screen or a small commission; your next artwork should always be your greatest. I create art not for fame but to connect, find truth, and have a profound impact on the audience. In the art world, if one does not stand out, one will not survive. Beatriz Luengo and Grace Gonzalez guided me through the images that needed to be included for specific sections of the mural. When you look at the mural, your eye immediately sees the center image—a man with his left fist in the air with handcuffs still attached to his wrist. As you take in the images below the handcuffs in the mural, you'll see that most represent negativity, oppression and struggle. The contrast is the images above the handcuffed wrist, where you see more positive and uplifting imagery. Altogether, it's a profound exploration of torment, triumph, and the transformative power of music and freedom in Cuban society and globally.
The collage cut-out pieces feature a collection of media from The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, BBC News, El Pais, NPR, NBC News, Harvard Political Review, Billboard, Rolling Stone Magazine, USA Today, The Economist, Miami Herald and The Los Angeles Times which covered the impact of the song "Patria y Vida." Using published visual and written content as the foundation for the visual aesthetic of the mural, Santalo's art piece now also serves as a journalistic time capsule.
What does the "349" mural mean to you?
If you notice, no politicians are featured on the mural. It's solely about human rights, particularly Cuban law 349, which decrees that artists must acquire advanced permission from the government before creating any type of artwork.
Law 349 is the reason why so many artists are incarcerated in Cuba. Instead of having their artistic work approved by the government, they decided to create their pieces without approval. Decree 349 in Cuba affects all artists, but its impact can be particularly severe on marginalized groups, including Afro-Cuban artists. It's no surprise that the rappers behind the song "Patria y Vida" are Afro-Cuban. Now … they're in jail for it. If I lived in Cuba, I could easily be another jailed artist. Creating this mural has been an honor and has allowed me to give these artists an amplified voice in my work. This project has given me greater connection and insight into the newest generation's struggles in communist Cuba.
What kind of response has the film received by audiences?
Recently, it was exhibited in New York at DOC NYC, an Academy-qualifying festival for short films, where the film received a standing ovation. It was also shown to an audience at Florida International University (FIU). At the end of this screening, I noticed several audience members—including myself and my family—who were emotionally affected by the story.
Where is mural "349" on display now?
It is now on display at the FIU College of Law. I hope the mural delivers a profound and thought-provoking experience to all who encounter it.
This is the third time Santalo's collage work has been featured as part of the overall look of a show, documentary and series. His previous works have been included in the Premios Juventud Award Show for Univision and in La Bella y Las Bestias miniseries for W Studios and Univision.
For more information on Cesar Santalo, his past work, and Lynn's College of Communication and Design, visit lynn.edu/communication.
