Sharing Dreams/Compartiendo Sueños 2007:
Design in Culture/Diseño en Cultura

José Menéndez

I wonder if design and culture are truly two different things. I remember a verse by Argentinean poet Juan Gelman: “Who said once thirst comes up to here, water up to here?” Like water, which sweeps thirst away and in itself is unquenchable, design does not contribute to spread culture, but it is culture itself. It is essential and navigates in the middle of its course.

But as we do not have two different words to name them, I have tried to find the point of overlapping of their respective letters. Thus emerged this design. On that rather small common surface I was able to join both words. Perhaps it is there where the most authentic culture and the best design coincide. It would be a good dream to share this year: to witness the most beautiful and effective crossing of design and culture (if they really are two different things).

Bio

University studies of Graphic Design at the Institute for Higher Studies of Industrial Design (ISDI), Havana, Cuba, 1984-1989. Postgradual studies: International Course of Graphic Design at the Graphic Media Development Centre (GMDC), The Netherlands, 1995.
Has been Design Director at Casa de las Américas (cultural institution) since 1999.

Other works for: Salsa Cubana (music magazine), Dédalo (art and literature magazine), Ministery of Culture, Alliance Française in Havana and National Museum of Arts, among others.

Works recently exposed at: Mexican and Cuban Posters, Wifredo Lam Center, Havana 2000; Diseño de Fin de Siglo (Design at the End of the Century), Gráfica Cubana 1990-2000, Wifredo Lam Center, Havana, 2001; Cuban Posters, New York, 2002; Dos aceras. Gráfica contemporánea cubana, Centro Cultural Cinematográfico ICAIC, Havana, 2002; Instantes del cartel cubano del siglo XX, Galería de Arte 23 y 12, Havana, 2002; Carteles Cubanos, Galería de la SENAC, Sao Paolo, 2003; New Roots in Cuban Art, National Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur, Malyasia, 2004; Cuban Posters: A Retrospective, Track 16 Gallery, Los Angeles, 2004; 2nd Korean International Poster Biennnale, Jury members exhibition, Seoul, 2004.

Works published in: D Magazine (London); El Caimán Barbudo Magazine (Havana); TM Magazine (Bern); Artecubano Magazine (Havana); Applied Arts Magazine (Toronto); Visual Magazine (Madrid); Druck Magazine (Amsterdam); Icograda Message Board (Brussels); Gallery on Icograda’s website (www.icograda.org); Book and multimedia La imagen constante,El cartel cubano del siglo XX (Havana, 2001); Book World Graphic Design (London, 2003).