Conclusion

Returning to Antonio Benitez Rojo’s notion of the sea as the force that continually shapes and reshapes the islands and their people, the conclusion turns to Cuban diasporic artists, particularly those relocated in the US, to look at ideas of nation, exile, and identity. Exile is no longer the one–way turnstile it was in the past, especially for artists; many artists come and go, to and from the island, and participate in marquee events like the Havana Biennial, the world international famous art exhibit. Through the analysis of key artworks produced by diasporic artists and artists of Cuban descent in the diaspora, the conclusion considers the further deployment of stereotypes, prominently that of the mulata. These artists typically use familiar imagery to interrogate and contest the conventional interpretations they bear. The conclusion concludes by suggesting that as images of mulatas and the performance of mulataje have undergone continual shifts, they continue to do so, on the island and in the diaspora.