Le jardinier et son seigneur 2020

Carlos Sablòn painted "Le jardinier et son seigneur" to explore themes of power, survival, and the intersection of human and animal worlds. The scene is surreal, populated by a watchful rabbit, whose gaze meets ours. Born in 1981, Sablòn's work often draws from Cuban culture and its complex relationship with authority, scarcity, and adaptation. The rabbit, traditionally a symbol of vulnerability, here seems vigilant, aware of its surroundings. Is it a commentary on the artist’s position as a Cuban artist navigating the global art market? Or about the lived experiences of being on the margins? Note how the lush landscape contrasts with the presence of smoke stacks in the distance, a reminder of industrial intrusion into the natural world. The offering of carrots seems like a peace treaty but also a question. The painting asks: who is the gardener and who is the lord? Is it a negotiation of power, or an embrace of the unexpected resilience of life?