: Manuel Hechavarria Zaldivar (b. 1988) Holguin, Cuba.
Currently lives and works in Paris, France since 2016.
From an early age he participated in painting classes and exhibitions in his hometown.
He graduated in the specialty of painting and drawing in 2007 at the Holguín's Academy of Art (Academia de Artes Plasticas "El Alba", founded in 1961).
In 2008 he started a degree in Sociocultural Studies at the University of Holguín, in which he graduated in 2014.
Between 2009 and 2011 he joined the performance and happenings group "Vacutainer", led by conceptual Cuban artist Ruben Tomas Salvia. The group participates in various festivals and exhibitions in the region.
His works has been in physical and online exhibitions in the U.S. and the U.K. mainly.
Describe the happy place in your mind?
I could say I have several "Happy" spaces in mi mind, between family and traveling back home to Cuba. But I think one of the more satisfying moments of happiness is that first spark of creativity and of course seeing that become a reality and mostly when the final result is really close to what I had imagined it.
What are your favourite foods?
Breakfast: Coffee toasted bread and pain au chocolat.
Midday: Fufú with yellow plantain and fried pork skin grease with omelet.
Evening: Rice and beans with tamales, fried banana plantain and meat( pork or chicken)
Your life has inspired the making of a feature film; what’s the title?
The Simple Life of an Artist
