Cristian Mesa Velazquez - El Aliento Suspendido

In The Suspended Breath, Cristian Mesa Velázquez captures a liminal moment: that exact second when the body floats between two worlds, between immersion and return, between the silence of the water and the vital need for air. The figure emerges frontally, almost at human scale, facing the viewer with a closeness that eliminates all contemplative distance.

The oil treatment is especially notable on the skin, where dense, visible brushstrokes convey the refraction of water, pressure on the body, and the vibration of underwater light. It is not photographic realism, but sensory realism: the work is not just looked at, but felt. Bubbles, the slight gesture of the lips, and the tension held in the shoulders turn the scene into a physical and emotional experience.

Diving goggles function as a symbolic threshold. They partially conceal the gaze but amplify the sensation of vulnerability and surrender. The viewer does not observe the figure from outside: they are invited to share their state, their pause, their held breath. The underwater background, rendered with a fresh and vibrant palette, envelops the composition and reinforces the idea of temporary suspension.

From a curatorial perspective, this work dialogues with contemporary figuration and intimate painting, addressing universal themes such as the fragility of the body, introspection, and the moment before action. It is a piece with a strong visual impact, capable of transforming the space it inhabits and creating an immediate connection with those who contemplate it.

Certificates of authenticity will be sent along with the artwork only in sales exceeding 500 euros.

The Suspended Breath is an invitation to possess a unique moment: an image charged with poetic tension, beauty, and humanity. A work designed for collectors seeking pieces with presence, narrative, and a genuine capacity to move and stay in memory.




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Paint colors may differ slightly from photos due to screen settings.

My artwork is packaged with the utmost care in a shipping tube for maximum protection, and shipped registered with a tracking code within 3 business days of payment.

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Studies
2013 - Intermediate Level in Fine Arts. Professional Academy of Fine Arts, Las Tunas, Cuba.

Collective exhibitions (selection)
2010. Nicolás Guillén Iconographic Hall. UNEAC, Las Tunas, Cuba
2010. “Offspring” Exhibition. Provincial Center for Plastic Arts, Las Tunas, Cuba.
2011. Martiano Hall. Sculpture Workshop Gallery, Las Tunas, Cuba.
2011. “Lithographs” Exhibition. UNEAC, Las Tunas. Cuba.
2011. “Comprehensive Final Exercise” Exhibition. Professional Academy of Fine Arts, Las Tunas, Cuba.
2012. Martí Hall. Huellas Cultural Center, Las Tunas, Cuba.
2012. “The Eve” Exhibition. Provincial Center for the Visual Arts, Las Tunas, Cuba.
2013. “Guernica” Hall. AHS, Las Tunas. Cuba.
2013. “Plastic Arts in April” Salon. Provincial Center for Plastic Arts, Las Tunas, Cuba.
2013. Group exhibition “Art, a Social Image.” Provincial Center for the Visual Arts, Las Tunas, Cuba.
2016. First Fine Arts Salon. Guáimaro Art Gallery. Camaguey, Cuba.
2016. Group exhibition, Aires de Cubanía. Casa del Alba Cultural, Havana, Cuba.
2017. 3rd Edition of the Fine Arts Salon, Guáimaro, Camaguey, Cuba.
2017. Collective Exhibition, One of a Hundred, Rita Longa Sculpture Workshop Gallery. Las Tunas, Cuba.
2017. Review of the traveling group exhibition, Aires de Cubanía, Ibero-American and Caribbean Magazine "Arte por Excelencias" Year VII/NO. 32/2017/Quarterly. Page: 18.
2018. “Plastic Arts in April” Salon, Provincial Center for Plastic Arts, Las Tunas, Cuba.
2019. Collective Miniature Exhibition “Painting, Noble Lady of the Spirit” Ciego de Ávila, Cuba.
2019. “Osmosis” Collective Exhibition, AHS, Las Tunas, Cuba.
2020. Tribute Exhibition to Anette Delgado, Havana, Cuba.
2020 Luxembourg International Arts Fair
2020 International City of Lights Fair Paris 2020
2021 International Fine Arts Fair GERMANY 2021
2021 International Fine Arts Fair France 2021