Bio
Irolan Maroselli is an independent artist from Havana, Cuba, currently living in Texas. He is known for his explorations of sociocultural themes through photography, experimental cinema, and sculpture. He holds a degree in History from the University of Havana, obtained in 2012, which provides a rich foundation for his art’s deep engagement with Cuban society.
Maroselli’s early work, primarily in analog photography, includes the series “La estafa” (2010-14), where he used his own body as a metaphor for the island, portraying various characters to reflect diverse experiences under a totalitarian regime. This project stands out for its anthropological approach, exploring the relationship between the lower classes and the political establishment over the last 60 years.
Expanding his practice in recent years, Maroselli has ventured into experimental cinema, using sequences of images to explore complex narratives and express his thoughts. His latest photographic series, “Doce escenas cotidianas,” employs traditional Polaroid 3.1-inch square format to combine staged photography with political and cultural commentary, challenging viewers to reconsider everyday life and societal issues.
In addition to his photographic and cinematic work, Maroselli has developed a strong interest in sculpture, particularly working with materials such as metal and concrete. His sculptural practice delves into the inherent meanings of these materials and the dialogue they create. This aspect of his work seeks to understand and convey the complex relationships between materiality, symbolism, and cultural narratives, emphasizing themes of resilience, decay, and transformation.
Maroselli’s recent artistic investigation centers on the intersections of history, memory, and identity, creating nuanced narratives that reflect both the socio-political landscape of contemporary Cuba and broader human concerns. His sculptures juxtapose the solidity of metal with the fragility of concrete, symbolizing the enduring yet vulnerable nature of cultural identity and human existence.
His work has been exhibited internationally, including in Cuba, Mexico, Italy, the United States, Japan, and Norway, highlighting the universal resonance of his themes.
C.V.
Education
Taller de Cine y Video-Arte Experimental: ¨Fotografía en movimiento16mm¨. Impartido por Juan Carlos Alom. Estudio8. La Habana, Cuba.
Taller de Crítica. Impartido por el Crítico de Arte y Profesor Ricardo Viera. Auspiciado por FotoFest International y la Foundation for Culture and Society.
Licenciado en Historia. Universidad de la Habana. La Habana, Cuba.
Taller de Fotografía Cubana Contemporánea. Centro Nacional de Desarrollo para la Cultura. La Habana, Cuba.
Filmography
El cauto paso. 16mm I 2019
Rapsodia para un caballo. Variación No.1. 16mm I 2018
311. Co-director by Elizabeth Rodríguez and Irolan Maroselli I 16mm I 03:14 I B & W I silent film I 2017
Solo Exhibition
2018 I En el día del padre. Fototeca de Cuba. La Habana, Cuba.
2016 I Miedo a Vicente. Muestra bi-personal junto a la artista Anabel Cairo, La Pared Negra. F.A.C. La Habana, Cuba.
2014 I Compulsión. Muestra bi-personal junto al fotógrafo Yoanny Aldaya, Fototeca de Cuba. La Habana, Cuba.
La Estafa. La Pared Negra. F.A.C. La Habana, Cuba.
2013 I Fotografías II, Centro Cultural Raquel Revuelta. La Habana, Cuba.
Group Exhibition
2022 I Ten by Ten. FotoFest Biennial 2022. The Silos at Sawyer Yards, Houston, TX, USA.
2019 I Fort Mason, San Francisco Art Institute, SFAI, California, EEUU.
This is a wonderful country. Colateral a la XIII Bienal de La Habana. La Pared Negra. FAC. Cuba.
KG+. Festival Internacional de Fotografía de Kyoto. Japón.
2018 I 16mm Cine Experimental, El Apto Gallery, La Habana. Cuba.
ISMO, ISMO, ISMO. Echo Park Film Center. California, L.A.
2017 I 16mm Fotografía en movimiento. Connectticut University, E.U.A.
Mutaciones. Estudio Figueroa-Vives / Emb de Noruega en Cuba. La Habana. Cuba.
Doble play. Fotografía Cubana. Museo Cuatro Caminos. Ciudad de México. México.
La Mala Yerba. La Fotografía Cubana Contemporánea. Isolo 17 Gallery, Verona, Italia.
2015 I Campos de Batallas. Galería PunCnTm. Ciudad de México. D. F
Campos de Batallas, Estudio 8, XII Bienal de La Habana, Plaza de la Revolución, La Habana
Incicivos, caninos y molares. La Pared Negra. F.A.C. Colateral a la XII Bienal de La Habana. La Habana. Cuba.
2014 I Historia y Cuerpo, Jueves de La Embajada, Embajada de España en Cuba, La Habana Vieja, La Habana, Cuba.
Post-it. Segunda Edición. Exposición de Arte Contemporáneo Cubano. Galería Galeano. La Habana, Cuba.
2013 I Collective exhibition in Fotografiens Hus, Oslo, Norway.
Nordic-Light International Festival of Photography,
Kristiansund, Noruega.
2012 I Carretillas. Performance dirigido por Samuel Riera. XI Bienal de La Habana, La Habana, Cuba.
2009 I Fuerte es el Morro, who I am. Aglutinador-Laboratorio. La Habana, Cuba.
2008 I Curadores Go-Home. Espacio Aglutinador-Laboratorio. La Habana, Cuba.
We are porno, si… Espacio Aglutinador-Laboratorio. La Habana, Cuba.
2007 I Bienal de Fotografía “Alfredo Sarabia in Memoriam”, Galería Tele Pinar. Pinar del Río, Cuba.
2006 I Reencuentro. XX Aniversario de la Fototeca de Cuba, Convento de San Francisco de Asís. La Habana, Cuba.
Publications
Cuba en 16. Art OnCuba no.17.2018. Grethel Morell Otero.
Los Campos de batalla (Sobre la fotografía cubana contemporánea). ¨Página en blando¨ Publicación digital de PuNcTuM Galería.
Santo Domingo Time
Une avant-garde cubaine en 2014. Vie Des Arts. No. 236. 2014