Despingovery Channel, the channel of Cuban content creator and humorist Eddy Ceballos (@eddy.pa_.gozar), has arrived this time at the ruins of the Higher Institute of Art.
The entertaining channel, where Eddy, with a documentary narrator's voice and a script infused with local humor, documents the unfortunate construction state of the island, announces a series of videos that will showcase the current condition of the well-known Cubanacán Art Schools.
"Where the muses rest, the catacombs of ISA, a city of splendor that captivates," jokes the comedian.
All that’s left is to wait for the videos where Eddy will showcase a building that, even in its abandoned state, captured my heart (truly). You can’t miss The ISA: Higher Institute of Art.
The deterioration of what are among the most important architectural works of the revolutionary period has been reported for years. Last year, a video from the independent media Diario de Cuba showcased the unfortunate construction state of the unfinished project by Italian architects Vittorio Garatti and Roberto Gottardi alongside Cuban Ricardo Porro.
Made of bricks and featuring terracotta domes, the complex of buildings, where the vibrant Cuban revolution would teach the underprivileged the art of painting, dance, and music, has been for years a heap of building blocks that seems on the verge of disappearing at any moment, swallowed by the underbrush.
Although the government has announced attempts to preserve the complex several times, none of them have materialized.
The government currently recognizes the National Schools of Art in Cubanacán as “a stellar moment in Cuban architecture of the Revolution,” but by the end of 1965, the project was left unfinished, and the three architects who conceived it were accused of promoting ideals of individual expression, branded as bourgeois and cultural elitists, and were forced to leave the island.
Frequently Asked Questions about the status of the Higher Institute of Art and the Despingovery Channel series
What is the current status of the Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA) in Cuba?
The Higher Institute of Art is in a state of lamentable deterioration. Despite being one of the most significant architectural works of the revolutionary period, the complex designed by architects Vittorio Garatti, Roberto Gottardi, and Ricardo Porro has been abandoned for years, with structures that seem to be swallowed up by the weeds. Despite official announcements of preservation efforts, these initiatives have never materialized.
What is the series Despingovery Channel and who produces it?
Despingovery Channel is a series of humorous videos created by Cuban comedian Eddy Ceballos. Through his Instagram account, Ceballos transforms the potholes and the deterioration of Cuban infrastructure into urban "scientific phenomena," narrated in a documentary tone with a script filled with local humor. The series has gone viral thanks to its blend of social critique and comedy.
Why was the Higher Institute of Art (ISA) never completed?
The project of the Higher Institute of Art was left unfinished at the end of 1965. The architects were accused of promoting ideals of individual expression, deemed bourgeois and culturally elitist, and were forced to leave the island. Since then, the complex has remained in a state of semi-neglect, with no concrete efforts for restoration announced by the authorities.
How has the audience reacted to the series Despingovery Channel?
The series Despingovery Channel has sparked a wave of laughter and reflection among Cubans. Eddy Ceballos' videos have generated numerous comments on social media, ranging from applause for his creativity to concern over the implicit critiques of urban decay in Cuba. Some users even worry that the regime may not tolerate the satire and the "disguised denunciation of jokes" that characterize the series.
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