Written by Josée Thissen-Rojer.
The solo exhibition by sculptor Angel Luis de la Rosa, ‘Retos’, can be seen until Saturday, November 13th in Gallery Alma Blou, in Landhuis Habaai. A total of 13 of his sculptures are displayed in the large room of the gallery. The walls are bare, so the wood carvings and stone sculptures get all the attention.
The vernissage took place on Saturday evening, October 30th, in the presence of the artist. Art lover Laureen Schenk held a lecture during the opening celebration in which she talked about her love of Angel Luis’ work and about the pieces that were on display. Angel Luis was then given the microphone, but he was modest. He thanked those in attendance for coming, however, as a man of few words, he preferred to let his work speak for him.
Angel Luis de Rosa Gonzáles (1971) was born in Cuba and has lived in Curaçao since 2009. He comes from a family of artisans whose products are highly regarded. His relatives hold occupations such as saddler, shoemaker, carpenter, graphic artist, and weaver. When Angel Luis is 12 years old, he goes to a secondary school where art is taught, the Academia José Joaquín Tejada, in Santiago de Cuba. The program is full-time, 6 days a week, and lasts 7 years. Although he excels in graphics at school, he personally prefers working with three-dimensional shapes. After completing his education, he becomes a drawing and sculpting teacher.
After this, he goes to work at the Casa de la Cultura Miguel Matamoros in Santiago de Cuba, in the arts and crafts department. Through this job, he also becomes a member of the Asociación Cubana de Artesanos Artistas. Later, he becomes president of the association and holds this position for 10 years. In the meantime, he participates in group exhibitions for craftsmen every year and regularly receives prizes and recognitions. He is also commissioned to work on several projects. In 2005, he has his first solo exhibition entitled ‘Consagración a la Primavera’ (Initiation of Spring), at the provincial institution Biblioteca Elvira Cape.
As Angel Luis approaches forty, he increasingly realizes that he feels trapped in his own country. During a short work trip to Martinique, he awakens to the realization that a society can also function differently than what he has been used to in Cuba. This further heightens his sense of restlessness. He makes the decision to emigrate, and he initially plans to go to Brazil. While he’s preparing to do this, he hears about a construction project in Curaçao, for which specialized workers are urgently needed. Angel Luis changes his plans and along with 4 compatriots, he leaves for Curaçao in 2009, with three of his wooden figurines in his luggage.
In Curaçao, he becomes involved in the construction of L’Aldea, a tourist project near Sta. Catherina. He brings his wooden figurines to Gallery Alma Blou, to see if there might be interest in his work. Gallery owner Lusette Verboom is enthusiastic and from that moment on he brings everything he creates to the gallery. After his contract with the construction project expires, Angel Luis decides to stay in Curaçao to start his own company. He is also active in the art scene and regularly participates in group exhibitions at the gallery. In the past year, he exhibited together with Marjon Wegman and Rien te Hennepe at Gallery Alma Blou (Exhibition “Klei, Steen & Hout”). In June, he’s one of the 45 local artists who would open their studio to the public during the Open Atelier Route of 2021.