David Escalona (Cuba)
David Escalona
is a musician and a visual artist, working in the fields of graffiti and painting. His original style called by the artists „Free Hop” combines reggae, hip-hop and other musical genres with performance and other interdisciplinary, artistic elements. His first album La Rueda (2009) gained a prize in Festival Nacional del Disco Independiente Cubano in the Rap category. Following albums Tocan Tokao (2010) and A La Guachornein La Pipol Nao (2011) were nominated for the Cubadisco prize. In 2012 he released his newest album Free Hop. He was performing in Cuba, Germany, Great Britain, Spain, Poland and Croatia. He is a winner of the first hip-hop clash in Cuba, Beat Makers.
Since 2000 he is a member of a multidisciplinary art collective Omni-Zonafranca. Omni-Zonafranca was founded 17 years ago in Cuba. It is known for its unusual actions in public space and experimental concerts which bring together visual arts, music, poetry social activism. Omni-Zonafranca is recognized nationally and internationally for their interdisciplinary and social approach. The group's activities in Cuba are higly censored, controlled and banned for their social impact and engagement in fighting for human rights and freedom of expression.
Members of Omni-Zonafranca: David Escalona and Luis Eligio - will present some of their latest work with the group in music, video, photography and performances in the frames of the presentation at the Laboratory at the Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art on Thursday August 9th, 2013 at 6 p.m. Luis Eligio i David Escalona will perform together ZONA OMNI FRANCA: ALTERNATIVE SHOW MAKINA TOTAL FREE in the frames of Zielony Jazdów Festival at the Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art on Saturday August 10th, 9 p.m. David Escalona will perform solo on Friday, August 9th, 9 p.m. at DZIK, Belwederska 44A, Warsaw.
