Tropique du Capricorne 1961

Wifredo Lam created "Tropique du Capricorne," using oil on canvas, a piece where modern art sensibilities meet Afro-Caribbean identity. Lam, a Cuban artist with Chinese, Spanish, and African heritage, navigated the complexities of cultural identity in a world shaped by colonialism and the diaspora. During his time in Europe, Lam became associated with the Surrealist movement. His engagement with Surrealism provided him with an artistic language to express the subconscious, challenge Western conventions, and celebrate his cultural roots. In this work you can see how he integrates elements of Cubism and Surrealism. Lam sought to depict a fusion of cultures. The hybrid figures, part human, part animal, challenge traditional representations and speak to the syncretic nature of Caribbean identity. How does it feel when you see his blend of cultural symbols and abstraction? Lam once said, "My painting is an act of decolonization." Through this lens, "Tropique du Capricorne" invites us to reflect on the intertwined histories of colonialism, identity, and artistic expression.