The acclaimed Turkish artist and thinker Bedri Baykam, one of the most prominent figures in contemporary art from Türkiye, held a meeting with the Consul General of Cuba in Istanbul Raúl E. Madrigal Cárdenas, during which he officially presented his work entitled “El Comandante” to be transferred to and incorporated into the collection of the National Museum of Fine Arts of Cuba.
During the encounter, held in an atmosphere of respect and deep symbolism, Baykam expressed his solidarity with the people and government of Cuba following the loss of human lives resulting from the illegal attack carried out by United States military forces against Venezuela on January 3, 2026. The artist highlighted the importance of peace and the defense of sovereignty in Latin America.
Baykam also emphasized the spirit of resistance of the Cuban people, underscoring his conviction that the Cuban Revolution will prevail, inspired by the legacy of emblematic figures such as Fidel Castro and Ernesto “Che” Guevara.
Bedri Baykam, born in Ankara in 1957, is one of Türkiye’s most internationally well‑known artists and intellectuals. He has held numerous exhibitions around the world and maintained a lifelong commitment to addressing social and political themes in his creative work, as well as promoting culture and art as universal expressions of dialogue and humanism.
The National Museum of Fine Arts of Cuba, an institution that has housed a vast collection of Cuban and international art since its founding in 1913, will receive the work as part of its expansion of contemporary pieces, strengthening cultural exchange between Cuba and artists worldwide.
The donation of “El Comandante” represents a significant gesture of artistic and political fraternity, reaffirming the ties of cooperation between the artistic community of Türkiye and the Cuban nation, as well as underscoring the importance of art as a bridge of solidarity in times of international challenges.