Alfredo Coello – Guest of the Mist

Witness of Dreams
The nuances and effects created by mist over the landscape have often served as a source of inspiration for painting. In his exhibition Guest of the Mist, Cuban artist Alfredo Coello explores this ethereal quality with lyrical intent, imbuing his works with a suggestive, almost dreamlike atmosphere. His pieces, wrapped in veils of subtle tonal shifts, seem to emerge from a universe where the tangible dissolves into the intangible, where images are constructed through evanescence.
However, Coello’s purpose goes beyond mere dreamlike reverie. Nature itself, with its interplay of light and shadow and its ever-changing forms, offers scenes that often feel idealized. In this way, Coello becomes not only a poet of imagery but also a chronicler of the ephemeral. His art captures fleeting moments that, despite their unreal appearance, evoke authentic experiences—fragments of reality that the human eye can only perceive in moments of stillness and contemplation.
With a soft and understated execution, Coello creates a tranquil world that can also evoke a sense of melancholy. The mist does not merely conceal but reveals hidden presences—figures that emerge from the distance or blend into the landscape. This delicate balance between the visible and the suggested generates a feeling of introspection and retreat.
One of the most remarkable aspects of this exhibition lies in Coello’s technical mastery. His precise drawing, subtle detailing, and harmonious compositions reflect both solid artistic training and a sensitivity that transcends mere representation. The dominant monochrome palette enhances the restrained spirit of his figurative work, unifying the collection and heightening the sensation of a suspended, timeless atmosphere.
These may be dreamscapes, but they are also records of a wondrous experience—a morning vision where light filtered through mist reveals new meanings. Alfredo Coello’s work invites viewers to pause and carefully observe the often-overlooked beauty in everyday life. His paintings draw us back to a contemplation of the essential, to the fleeting beauty of the moment.
In Guest of the Mist, nature becomes a space for revelation and wonder. Coello demonstrates that reality and dreams are not opposites but complementary dimensions of perception. His evocative and precise work secures his place as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary Cuban art.