Juan Roberto Diago Durruthy, the artist representing Cuba at the 61st Venice Biennale, will exhibit an installation titled *Hombres Libres (Free Men)* at Il Giardino Bianco – Art Space. In an interview with ArtReview, he explains that the work reflects on humanity's resilience against historical and contemporary injustices, connecting to the Biennale's theme "In Minor Keys" by addressing the violent trauma of dehumanization and enslavement. He cites the poet Juan Francisco Manzano as a key inspiration and emphasizes Cuban art's open-minded, market-independent character.
The interview is part of ArtReview's daily series leading up to the 2026 Venice Biennale (9 May – 22 November), produced in partnership with Versace. Diago Durruthy's responses underscore the role of national pavilions in fostering peaceful dialogue amid rising nationalisms, and highlight Cuba's unique artistic voice shaped by both academic training and popular culture. The piece matters because it offers a direct, personal perspective from an artist representing a nation with a complex political and cultural history at one of the world's most prestigious art events.