![Yoan Capote, Abstinencia (Disentir), 2022](https://artlogic-res.cloudinary.com/w_1600,h_1600,c_limit,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto/artlogicstorage/benbrown/images/view/5bb52c37d78009ec0b1335ebd973bdc0j/benbrownfinearts-yoan-capote-abstinencia-disentir-2022.jpg)
![Yoan Capote, Abstinencia (Disentir), 2022](https://artlogic-res.cloudinary.com/w_1600,h_1600,c_limit,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto/artlogicstorage/benbrown/images/view/fcfd1cea6833006082a3b231026d29c9j/benbrownfinearts-yoan-capote-abstinencia-disentir-2022.jpg)
Yoan Capote Cuban, b. 1977
The title translates to Abstinence (Rights).
Abstinencia is the title of the series – Yoan has done other editions with
words such as politics, religion, liberty and democracy. Yoan casts these hands
from anonymous individuals using sign language (each hand is from a different
person) and they are
sequenced to create words (here, derechos / rights), pointing to the inability
of common people to voice their concerns and their lack of decision-making
power on important social issues. For Yoan, abstinence in this instance is used in an
ironic way – it is a metaphor for self-censorship, lack of power and the fear
the Cuban population assumes in relation to the issues of politics, democracy,
liberty and human rights.
This work draws its inspiration from Yoan Capote’s 2011 series "Abstinencia (politica)," which delves into the obstructed channels of linguistic communication and the denial of fundamental human rights in expression. In this series, casts of hands from various anonymous individuals are arranged in positions representing deaf-mute sign language, embodying the absence of voice or social agency in addressing contemporary issues. The 2022 piece spells out the word "DISENTIR," translating to "Dissent" in English—a term denoting the expression of opinions that diverge from those commonly or officially upheld.
Renowned as one of Cuba’s most innovative and influential artists, Capote consistently anchors his oeuvre in the human experience, focusing on themes of freedom and migration. His sign-language works, when displayed, often include a sign-language code to facilitate viewer understanding. This sculpture poignantly underscores the tension between the fundamental right to speak and the silence imposed by invisible yet palpable forces.
A pertinent piece, "Abstinencia (Libertad)," serves as a poetic reflection on the themes of freedom and migration, central to Capote's artistic vision. Conceived after a visit to New York City, the site of the Statue of Liberty, this work features bronze casts of the hands of anonymous migrant workers, arranged to spell "Libertad" (Liberty) in sign language. An accompanying print of the sign-language alphabet allows viewers to decode the message. The piece poignantly illustrates the struggles ordinary people face in having their voices heard on significant social issues.
Capote articulates the essence of this work: “This series is a metaphor for the absence of voice or the lack of decision-making power that ordinary people confront in various societal contexts… It is a deeply pessimistic reflection on Liberty, using my hand and my frustration as a Cuban, symbolically joined with the hands and frustrations of migrants from other contexts and political systems… The irony is heightened by the setting of New York City and its famous monument to Liberty, made with the hands of people who scarcely know what Liberty truly means.”
Furthermore, Capote explains his artistic approach: "I often experiment with different patinas because each hand belongs to a unique individual, and I aim to convey the diversity and variety of people. I enjoy incorporating different tones and skin colors to reflect the real individuals who form part of the piece. Each hand represents a person of a different race, and through this work, I address the social condition of political voicelessness and collective censorship." (Yoan Capote, 15.03.2023)
In sum, this sculpture, like much of Capote's work, elegantly highlights the paradox between the inherent right to express oneself and the enforced silence experienced by many, offering a profound commentary on societal and political constraints.