Kiki Valdes / Tropical Coffee & Objects of the unknown

"CafeteraCana" introduces a new body of work that revolves around the colloquial yet iconic cafetera, the Spanish term for a simple coffee pot. Within each of his paintings, Kiki Valdes delves into the cafetera's role as a vessel for personal history and cultural significance. The exhibition's title ingeniously combines "Cafetera" and "Americana," reflecting the artist's play on words. These artworks represent an extension of Valdes's exploration of painting techniques, drawing inspiration from the styles of esteemed painters like Philip Guston and Wayne Thiebaud. Valdes seamlessly blends historic perspectives, encompassing figurative abstraction, expressionism, and surrealism, with a nostalgic nod to the pop culture of the mid to late 19th century in the United States.

In 2020, Valdes participated in the Jentel Artist Residency in Wyoming. Each morning, he brewed coffee in the traditional Cuban manner using his beloved cafetera. His fellow artists were introduced to this technique for the first time, creating a connection between Valdes, his Cuban heritage, and the city of Miami. With a simple cup of coffee, he shared not only a warm beverage but also a piece of himself, his community, and his cherished customs.

Valdes's creative process for this series involved meticulous repetition, akin to the practices of modern masters who painted still-lifes or worked with models. Additionally, he drew inspiration from the world of graffiti art, where artists skillfully spray-paint the same image or text repeatedly, each iteration offering a subtle variation. For Valdes, this exhibition marks a significant departure from his previous work as he concentrates exclusively on a single object. The challenge was thrilling, and the outcome is a harmonious body of work that offers a fresh perspective on this universally recognized object.