An aerosol can of spray paint is louder than a megaphone for street artist Danilo Maldonado Machado, also known as El Sexto (the Sixth). El Sexto is a 32-year-old Cuban dissident and former prisoner of conscience for creating artwork in protesting the Castro regime. On Christmas Day, 2014, El Sexto was arrested without trial and spent 10 months in prison for painting Fidel and Raul Castro’s names on two pigs. He was released on Oct. 20, 2015 and continues to proclaim his message of free speech.
He calls himself El Sexto as a mockery of the Cuban intelligence spies "The Cuban Five." Although the Cuban Five was an anti-American group, El Sexto considers himself the sixth in the group because he's clandestinely spread his message of freedom.
He calls himself El Sexto as a mockery of the Cuban intelligence spies "The Cuban Five." Although the Cuban Five was an anti-American group, El Sexto considers himself the sixth in the group because he's clandestinely spread his message of freedom.
“Countless dissidents go unheard, but I’ve been lucky to find art because it’s such an effective tool to be able to express myself, “ El Sexto said. He considers himself a normal guy who dedicates his life for fighting against the oppressive Castro dictatorship. El Sexto said, “When you’re punched and knocked to the ground, you need to get back up.” He firmly believes that everybody can and will find their voices if they’re willing to do so.
The artist didn’t let the bars of prison trap his free spirit and love for liberty. In fact, his imprisonment was a time where he learned more about the underground world of the Cuban dissident community. He bonded with other dissidents from all over the Cuba who were victims of a system of violence and arbitrary arrests. “Everybody had a common bond of being oppressed by the same regime,” El Sexto recalled.
While prison is a method the Cuban government uses to silence people like El Sexto for speaking out against the dictatorship, the some of the prison guards saw El Sexto as a hero. Because of that, they made sure he received the letters from his mother and they snuck in art utensils so he could still draw. They saw him as a bold and fearless hero and he managed to sneak out about 40 drawings.
The artist didn’t let the bars of prison trap his free spirit and love for liberty. In fact, his imprisonment was a time where he learned more about the underground world of the Cuban dissident community. He bonded with other dissidents from all over the Cuba who were victims of a system of violence and arbitrary arrests. “Everybody had a common bond of being oppressed by the same regime,” El Sexto recalled.
While prison is a method the Cuban government uses to silence people like El Sexto for speaking out against the dictatorship, the some of the prison guards saw El Sexto as a hero. Because of that, they made sure he received the letters from his mother and they snuck in art utensils so he could still draw. They saw him as a bold and fearless hero and he managed to sneak out about 40 drawings.
El Sexto with a replication of his Christmas Day "exhibit" in Miami, FL. Feb. 25, 2016. Photo credits to Daniel Díaz-Balart
“Freedom is an exercise similar to how you exercise your muscles. You have to keep on building up your voice and exercise your freedom of expression,” El Sexto said. From a young age, El Sexto used art and humor to express his thoughts about Fidel Castro. At 9-years-old, he drew a caricature of Castro wearing his iconic olive green uniform but instead of Castro’s head, El Sexto drew a monkey’s head instead. When his mother told him he couldn’t draw Castro-mocking caricatures, he realized the power of art and humor.
El Sexto said that humor and ridicule reveals vulnerability in regimes that take away free speech rights because those regime leaders can’t handle any form of mockery. The way El Sexto sees it, “How can you kill someone without touching them?” He learned to clandestinely spread artwork and watched government officials burn with anger. He saw more value in the government officials’ anger because he knew he was communicating his ideas effectively.
El Sexto will continue to empower people to speak out against the Castro dictatorship. He believes that intelligence will win over brute force. He hopes to see art win.
El Sexto said that humor and ridicule reveals vulnerability in regimes that take away free speech rights because those regime leaders can’t handle any form of mockery. The way El Sexto sees it, “How can you kill someone without touching them?” He learned to clandestinely spread artwork and watched government officials burn with anger. He saw more value in the government officials’ anger because he knew he was communicating his ideas effectively.
El Sexto will continue to empower people to speak out against the Castro dictatorship. He believes that intelligence will win over brute force. He hopes to see art win.