Heyder Reyes

Speech by the Artist

Migration does not only imply moving from one place to another, it is a transformation that involves leaving behind a whole life and facing uncertainty.

Each work is a reflection of the same feeling with different nuances, a self-reflection where I question myself about why emigration occurs... it should not exist.

In an ideal world, no one would have to leave their home, their roots and their culture, in search of opportunities, security, and a dignified life.

To carry out this exhibition, I have based myself on my experiences and on testimonies from family and friends. These stories tell of the arduous journey that many of us undertake as migrants.

This body of work explores and delves into a "journey" that goes beyond physical borders, since it is a path full of challenges, sacrifices and hopes, with a single objective in mind: to achieve a dream, and although it is distant at the beginning, little by little it becomes attainable.

–Heyder Reyes, 2025

Introduction by the Gallerist

Heyder’s current work reflects the profound emotional journey of displacement and the search for identity. His art, shaped by his emigration experiences, explores the psychological impact of leaving one's homeland and the internal conflicts that arise when starting over. Through his stylistic hallmark, “Symbolic Realism,” Reyes delves into the complexities of human emotions, particularly the themes of isolation, resilience, and longing.

At the center of his artistic narrative is the recurring symbol of diving helmets, which act as metaphors for emotional protection. These protect their figures, representing the invisible barriers that people erect when traveling through unknown environments, while suggesting the weight of isolation.

The duality of vulnerability and strength is always present in his work, creating a powerful dialogue between the inner self and the outer world.

Heyder’s paintings are visually striking for the emotional depth they evoke. His use of symbolism elevates everyday experiences into universal narratives, inviting viewers to reflect on their own emotional journeys.

His work transcends his own personal stories, addressing the broader human condition of feeling uprooted, while also finding strength in new beginnings.

–Héctor Díaz, 2025

Critical text by the Curator

A trip can be an exciting and pleasant adventure, but when it is because of a need to search for better life opportunities, it becomes an arduous transformation experience, as well as uncertainty.

Heyder's work is a reflection of his personal history, and that of many other young people, in Cuba and the world, who are forced to leave their homeland behind and leave for an uncertain destiny in a foreign country.

Through a characteristic style, Reyes manages to capture the emotions and experiences that surround both those who leave, and those who stay, with the longing for the return of their loved one.

The diving helmet is a recurring symbol in its work, sometimes covering the faces of the characters, and sometimes empty, on behalf of those who have left.

An endless ocean, a boat, a plane wing, borders between nations, are images that bring us closer to the feeling of who has experienced first hand this hard journey.

–Marcelino Espinoza, 2025