Guantanamera 15X38 Pastel and pencil on paper

Guantanamera celebrates a unique connection between Cuban flower bats and the plants they pollinate.  Disc-shaped leaves above the flowers intensify bat sonar, making them more attractive.

Feeding primarily on the sugar-rich pollen from native plant species of the region, Cuban flower bats help promote the high degree of biodiversity found in their ecosystem. A flowering vine species called Marcgravia evenia is endemic to Cuba and relies heavily on bats for pollination, so much so that it sends out a ‘bat signal.’
This plant has evolved disc-shaped leaves that suspend above a ring of flowers, resembling a satellite dish, precisely what it does. The shape acts as a reflector for the biosonar, or echolocation, emitted by the animal. With this design, the Cuban flower bats can find the plants with greater ease and pollinate them with more frequency.
 - One Earth

The difference in signal between regular and disc-shaped leaves.

Disc-shaped leaves lure bats by intensifying their echolocation.

The painting is based on the song Guantanmera, a Cuban national anthem. The lyrics of Guantanamera are adapted from the Cuban poet José Martí's poem I am a Sincere Man. The text on the artwork contains lines from the song and the poem.

Mi verso es de un verde claro y de un carmin encendido.
My verses are clear green and flaming red.
He visto el nacimiento de hermosas alas.
I have seen the birth of beautiful wings.
He visto el cielo. Sé que el mundo cederá.
I have seen the sky. I know the world will yield.
Soy de la tierra donde crecen las palmeras.
I am from the land where the palm trees grow.
Cuelgo de un árbol marchito.
I hang from a withered tree.
Y antes de morirme quiero, echar mis versos del alma.
Before I die I want to cast these verses from my soul.