Elegua by Erik Olivera Rubio

Eleggua by Erik Olivera Rubio, acrylic on canvas/acrílico lienzo, 36 x 24 inches.

This is a captivating portrayal of the Yoruba deity Eleggua, the owner of roads and paths. In this vibrant piece, a beautiful little black boy, adorned with a mischievous gaze and an infectious smile, stands as the earthly embodiment of Eleggua’s youthful spirit. He clutches a key, symbolizing his dominion over the past, present, and future. Additionally, he holds a ‘garabato,’ a tool used by Yoruba farmers to carve open paths in the dense forest, metaphorically representing Eleggua’s influence in clearing the way for progress and growth. The vibrant hues of black and red saturate the canvas, embodying the energy and dynamism inherent in Eleggua’s essence. As the gatekeeper of ceremonies in Santería, Eleggua’s mischievous charm invites contemplation on the intricate dance between fate and free will, as he playfully opens the roads to possibility.

Erik Olivera Rubio is a contemporary painter from Havana, Cuba, known for his unique style of portraiture. The results of each brush stroke in Erik Olivera’s art are as colorful and fascinating as the complex foundation of Cuba’s ethnic map. The artist has taken it upon himself to incorporate his African heritage in a sort of freestyle composition that honors the traditions, dreams and aspirations of his land and his ancestors. The dazzling technical virtuosity that imbues all his works with a staggering force situates him in a special place among the Afro-Cuban artists. His work is in private collections in Japan, France, USA, Italy, Germany, Malaysia, Mexico, Canada and Norway, among other countries. He holds the First Prize of African Descent Contest, organized by the UNSI, and his work Obbatalá (2010) is part of the Yevgeny Yevtushenko Museum’s collection in Moscow.