Orlando Hernández is an independent writer, poet, art critic and a passionate researcher on popular cultures and Afrocuban ritual arts. He lives and works in La Habana, Cuba.
Hernández graduated in Art History from the University of Havana, Cuba, in 1978. He worked as a curator and researcher in the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes de La Habana from 1978 to 1989. His essays on art and culture have been published extensively in catalogues, magazines and books in Cuba and internationally. His recent publications include ‘The art victims of Havana’ (Parachute, 125, Montreal, 2007); ‘The importance of being local’, in the exhibition catalogue of Cuban artist Alberto Casado (New York: Art in General, 2005); ‘Unfaithful readings’, 18 short stories based on Carlos Garaicoa´s work included in the publication accompanying Garaicoa’s exhibition Capablanca’s Real Passion (Los Angeles: Museum of Contemporary Art, 2005); and ‘The pleasure of the reference’, in Art Cuba: The New Generation, edited by Holly Block (New York: Harry Abrams Inc, 2001).
As a poet, he has made artists’ books with the Cuban artists José Bedia, Julio Girona, Gustavo Acosta, Carlos Garaicoa, Lázaro Saavedra and Ibrahim Miranda.
Hernández is currently working on long-term research for a book on ‘popular art’ in the Caribbean, supported by the Prince Claus Fund. He is a member of the International Association of Art Critics (AICA), Southern Caribbean.