Alexis Díaz Carbonell and Alfredo Chong showcase Spring Festival art in Havana

Alexis Díaz Carbonell opened "Footsteps of Fire to the Rhythm of Ink" in Havana on Jan. 31, 2026, presenting horse-themed traditional Chinese paintings as part of Spring Festival commemorations. The exhibition brings a familiar Chinese visual language into Havana galleries at a time when the city’s cultural calendar is full of Lunar New Year activity, offering residents a fresh opportunity to see ink work that channels movement and calligraphic energy.

The show’s title signals a dialogue between gesture and history, and the horse motif on display resonates with public interest in zodiac imagery and dynamic brushwork. City-goers who follow local exhibitions will find the work timely: it adds to a season of cross-cultural programming that has populated Havana’s cultural centers and public squares during the holiday period.

A short walk from gallery corridors, Alfredo Chong has been mounting his own Spring Festival tribute. Chong, 73, a Cuban visual artist of Chinese descent, installed a 1.80-meter paper-mache sculpture titled "Cuban Terracotta Warrior" at Havana’s Confucius Institute as part of Lunar New Year celebrations. Chong describes the work as paying homage to "the bravery and strength of the Chinese people throughout history." He also highlights his long engagement with Chinese motifs: "Animals have a huge symbolism for Chinese zodiac and culture. I have portrayed rats, snakes, tigers and goats in my artworks," he said.

Chong’s sculpture blends local materials and personal memory. He works three or four hours a day from his home in the Arroyo Naranjo district, where large terraces ringed by orchids, ornamental plants and fruit trees serve as studio and display space. Pandemic-era restrictions have pushed some of his activity onto domestic terraces, but Chong’s sculptures have also been installed in public cultural centers, stores and the House of Chinese Arts and Traditions across Havana.

A photograph taken Feb. 10, 2022 shows Alfredo Chong working on the replica in his living room; photo credit Xinhua/Joaquin Hernandez. The image captures the hands-on construction behind the 1.80-meter piece and the intimate setting that supports Chong’s practice. Chong has never visited China, yet he says his work is rooted in admiration for Chinese cultural values: "This Terracotta Warrior will continue defending the principles and values of Chinese culture and people. In my heart, I have traveled to China several times," he added.

For readers in Havana, these exhibitions mean more than seasonal décor. Alexis Díaz Carbonell’s ink horses and Alfredo Chong’s life-size paper-mache warrior create local points of contact with Chinese artistic traditions during the Spring Festival, and they make it easier to experience cross-cultural expression without leaving the city. Check venue notices at neighborhood galleries and the Confucius Institute for visiting hours and exhibition runs to plan a visit.