In New Art of Cuba (2003), Luis Camnitzer speaks of Cárdenas' "overall sense of humor, care, and charm," noting that "his work is always carefully finished, with great, nearly obsessive respect for craftsmanship." For the most part, Cárdenas has preferred to work on a small scale, but he has occasionally created oversized pieces for specific exhibitions. El espacio no existe (Space Does Not Exist) is one such work. Painted in oil on a domestic bed sheet,the present lotdepicts the floor plan of a Cuban home, with handwritten notations and scatological figures. Interestingly, the format of El espacio no existe permits it to be folded and packed into a suitcase, like a piece of household goods.