The teenager told Prensa Latina she feels very happy because the award ‘is a recognition of all of us who live far from our native country and carry it in our hearts wherever we are’.

Her work is entitled ‘Flores de amor’ (Love flowers) and won the highest award in the field of Visual Arts in the contest ‘Cuba comes in me’, launched last summer by the National Council of ‘Houses of Culture’ of the Ministry of Culture, and the Foreign Ministry of Cuba.

Arias, born in Havana, confessed that painting runs in her blood and is nourished both by the images taken by her father from her native country, and by books she reads.

‘Thus I have been able to capture memories in plastic arts and venture into digital painting. Also in my painting there are colors closely related to Chinese culture, and the world that surrounds me is a blend of Cuba mixed with Asian culture’, the young girl added. She works different techniques such as pencil, comics, portrait and canvas.

The international contest called on all Cuban children and adolescents residing abroad and Cuban descendant children, to take part in Drawing, Painting, Cartoon, Photography and Audiovisual.

Participants chose a free theme to show what they know about the Caribbean Island, its history, culture, landscape, games, sports, social life or customs.

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