Osmel Herrera – The Other Cheek

“The Other Cheek” is the title of the exhibition by Cuban artist Osmel Herrera López, featuring the painting series Defenestrations. This body of work stems from a reflection on halos—emblematic symbols that, once stripped of their divine associations, become pure, beautiful forms imbued with heavy meaning. Each of Herrera’s designs, marked by complexity and variation, reveals the intricate structures of power that underpin society beyond religious faith.

The halo emerges not only as an aesthetic object but also as a reminder of how power operates in everyday life. In Defenestrations, each painting becomes a visual inquiry into this duality. In a world where saints have been replaced by contemporary idols—politicians, celebrities, and influencers—halos acquire a new symbolic charge. They serve as metaphors for the modern deities we venerate, those who shape behavior and dictate the conditions of our existence.

Through these works, Herrera delivers a critique of modern idolatry and the mechanisms that perpetuate inequality. Ultimately, his art confronts us with a vital question: Who truly holds the power over our destiny?