José Angel Nazabal (1994), an architect, comic artist, and visual artist born and based in Havana, Cuba, graduated in 2013 from La Academia Nacional de Artes Plásticas San Alejandro in painting and drawing. He later pursued architecture and urbanism at the Technological University of Havana José Antonio Echeverria, earning his degree in 2019. His visual art, developed alongside his architectural studies, focuses on queer themes and self-referentiality, utilizing digital art and watercolor as primary techniques. His work has been featured in several contemporary art anthologies, including The Queer Bible published in 2020 by Swiss curator Hans Ulrich Obrist.
In his latest series, the artist explores the intersection of personal narrative and broader social commentary through the lens of neofigurativism. His work is deeply rooted in the theory and representation of the body, using fictional characters and settings to communicate intimate stories and states of mind. Inspired by his background in architecture, he constructs visual narratives that reflect the unique experiences of the Queer community in Cuba, a context marked by limited visibility and representation.
The artist's practice is characterized by a deliberate use of watercolor, challenging traditional academic techniques to create a dynamic interplay between form and content. This medium allows him to delve into unfinished stories and narratives, providing a sense of fluidity and openness that invites viewers to engage with the work on multiple levels. His titles serve as an essential resource, offering additional layers of meaning and context that extend beyond the visual elements on paper.
Incorporating elements of cinema and photography, his work often resembles storyboards, where each drawing functions to narrate and complement a scene. This approach underscores his interest in the scenic and the performative, creating a rich tapestry of visual and textual information. Through his innovative use of watercolor, acrylic, and digital art, the artist continues to push the boundaries of contemporary representation, offering a poignant and thought-provoking exploration of identity and visibility.