Web: Contemporary Concepts
Pepe, my mentor my uncle, my most valuable and admired friend.
Pepe was a rare sort of person, multi faceted, deeply concerned and dedicated to
the arts in general and to his work as a painter. Whatever he did, he did it with
the dedication of a true professional with a deep insight and great imagination.
Pepe
was extremely intelligent and witty, with an excellent art background, very knowledgeable
in music, poetry and literature, he was an excellent actor, a finest illustrator,
he did everything with distinction, from making a line to designing a theatre production.
He was one of the most interesting Cuban painter working at the time. And unlike
many of his colleagues he never settled for superficial techniques or a single minded
approach.
He always looked for inner meanings and new answers. He was continuously
experimenting with new forms, creating, innovating and growing with every new painting
or drawing bringing with each new project that deeply professional commitment which
is the root of all true artistic achievement.
I can honestly said that he still ranks
with the best. And undoubtedly, he had a major contribution to make to the arts,
as he was undoubtedly a major talent of his generation.
Art was Pepe’s life!
His work
originated in the Cuban Contemporary School, and always maintained his native spontaneity
and his individual interpretation. The use of the elements acquire a new meaning
on Pepe’s palette and he maintained an innate fresh outburst of magical ingenuity
that allow the beauty of his art to emerge.
He endured many hardships to pursue his
dreams, and he had many important things to said, many were never said, he had just
the right combination of talent, perseverance and the necessary deep human felling
to say them.
His life was cut short in 1973 at 37 years of age.
There is no replacement
for Pepe in my lifetime.
Maribel C. Spiropoulos
