Alejandro Figueredo Diaz-Perera and the fine art of invisibility (Review)

Alejandro Figueredo Diaz-Perera is a Cuban performance artist who is planning on taking up residence for three weeks in silence behind the walls of a Chicago art gallery, who will not speak to anyone or interact in any way with the visitors, and will only do what essentials of daily living, eating, sleeping, etc.  He has entitled this piece “In the Absence of a Body.” This performance will be hosted by The Chicago Arts Coalition.

Diaz-Perera feels this piece is representative of the sense of isolation, the uncertainty of the future and the sense of invisibility to his chaotic upbringing in Cuba in the 90’s with a childhood punctuated by absences in his family including his father, who left Cuba during the economic and political upheavals of  Cuba in 80’s and 90s.  Alejandro Figueredo Diaz-Perera  performance showcases the invisibility of people or groups of people who often are marginalized and “invisible.” It will be interesting to see what reaction this performance piece has on the public. 

In doing research for this story, I checked out the website Crazy facts.com. In their review, they show the photo, the date and the word “Weirdo” next to it. I am not sure if that is the writer's name or if they are referring to the artist.  If Diaz-Perera is a weirdo, then so are a lot of artists and creative people, and there is nothing wrong with dancing to the tune of a different drummer, even if no one else hears the music. I embrace the weirdness in myself. While I often get stares from people who don’t embrace my way of thinking, I also get encouragement from those who understand it is part of who we are as humans and isn’t always a negative thing. Its just a thing. It’s just how our minds work sometimes.  

Got a comment, question for me? Send me an email. For more on this story, visit the Huffington Post.