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# Alternative Havana Biennial Organizers Detained After Filing a Complaint About Previous Detainment
- URL: https://hyperallergic.com/cuba-alternative-havana-biennial-organizers-detained/
- Published: 2017-11-22T17:33:52.000Z
- Updated: 2025-11-24T16:11:30.000Z
- Description: Curator Yanelys Nuñez Leyva and her partner, the artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, were detained by Cuban police after filing a complaint related to Alcántara detention earlier this month.
- Author: Benjamin Sutton
- Tags: In Brief, Cuba, Havana Biennial, Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, #wp, #wp-post, #image-position-hidden, #Import 2025-11-24 07:30(2016, 2017, part 3)

The Cuban artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara was briefly detained again by state authorities on Tuesday, along with his partner, art historian and curator Yanelys Nuñez Leyva, *Diario de Cuba* [reports](http://www.diariodecuba.com/derechos-humanos/1511299453%5F35472.html?ref=hyperallergic.com).

The two were detained after filing a complaint over the search of Alcántara’s home and studio when he was arrested [earlier this month](https://hyperallergic.com/cuban-police-detain-artist-planning-alternative-havana-biennial/). At that time, Alcántara was accused of being in illicit possession of construction materials. He was released on bail following three days of detainment, [an online petition](https://secure.avaaz.org/es/petition/Personas%5Finteresadas%5Fen%5FArte%5FCubano%5FLIBEREN%5FA%5FLUIS%5FMANUEL%5FOTERO%5FALCANTARA/?cxrFRhb&ref=hyperallergic.com) spearheaded by artist Tania Bruguera that garnered nearly 500 signatures, and a three-day hunger strike. An official date has yet to be set for the illicit possession trial.

Alcantará is the organizer, with Leyva, of the [#00bienal de La Habana](https://www.facebook.com/00Bienal-de-La-Habana-902727963215414/), an alternative Havana Biennial they announced after the official exhibition was postponed (due to damage from Hurricane Irene, according to [the official announcement](http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=127504&ref=hyperallergic.com)). When released after his previous arrest this month, Alcantará stated that the alternative biennial would go on as planned. His initial arrest came hours before a scheduled press conference announcing the biennial; Alcantará and Leyva rescheduled and held the conference [announcing the biennial](http://www.diariodecuba.com/cultura/1511209004%5F35443.html?ref=hyperallergic.com) on November 19, Leyva reported on her [Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/yanelys.nunezleyva). The call for entries for the first #00bienal de La Habana is [now open](http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=128216&ref=hyperallergic.com).