What do you see going on in this work of art? Is there a story depicted?

This work of art depicts a sunset, one which I assume the artist experienced in Havana, Cuba due to the title. It is very vibrant and seems like an explosion of light. After Parlá’s three-month-long coma, he decided to paint his dreams and this artwork seems very otherworldly. It is both gentle and chaotic all at once.

What different visual elements (ie: line, color, light, proportions, scale, composition, media type etc.) do you notice, and how do they help you make sense of the artwork?

The artist’s use of color is very intriguing. He uses primarily yellow, white, and blue to reflect the sky, but includes hints of pink, red, and orange to make it clear that it is a sunset. There is an almost rough texture to the painting making the view almost distorting. Although the linework is scattered, it is intentional and all the lines stem from the sun.

What choices do you think the museum made about the object’s display?

I think the museum chose to place it as part of the 4 Walls, 4 Artists installation because of how abstract it is. Parlá takes a familiar sight and personalizes it to his experience.

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