Introduction
I put a lot of work into these photographs and into understanding a culture that was not very familiar to me. I also did a lot of research before I went to Cuba, while I was there, and after I got home. My artist statement includes quite a few facts, while also incorporating my observations. I do understand I have my own biases due to my perspective, world view, point of view. With that said, I know that there is much more to understand. Hope you all enjoy.
Artist Statement
Title: A Sense of Presence
My photographs of Cuba were made on the premise of two thoughts. The first was my own curiosity of Cuban people and culture, and how the lifting of the embargo is and will affect their lives. The second is a thought developed from a quote by Marilyn Silverstone, in which she explains that even though we try to be subjective in our work; overall the corpus of our work becomes a self portrait of ourselves. These photographs are representative of what is observed through my eyes and what I conclude to be relevant in understanding Cuban culture and myself.
Travel to Cuba was clouded with conjectural expectations. As I walked through the neighborhoods I was greatly affected by the way people lived. In “The Labyrinth of Solitude” Octavio Paz compares the way in which Americans live and the way Mexicans live. This informed my view of the Cuban people, who have been limited by the embargo, who have been starving; and still find a way to progress in the arts, medicine and culture. Seeing the way they lived brought me to feel despair; yet they seemed happy by thriving as a community and supporting the people around them. It was apparent that the stereotype given to Americans as being “selfish” was a fair observation, especially when compared to a culture in which everyone greeted others with warmth and understanding. Cuba has a vast variety of people, similar to the diversity you would find in America, yet there were no signs of racism or hate. Although Paz wrote his book roughly 20 years ago, many of his points about identity in relation to America and Mexico are still observable today. Such as the constant search for identity, conformity to mainstream society, and overcoming the stereotypes given to those who appear to be “different”. Whereas Cuban people know exactly who they are. They are Cuban.
There is an undeniable sense of a strong nationalist population in which everyone has been through the same struggles and do not differentiate themselves based on skin color, class or gender. This is not to say that there are no flaws within Cuban society, but their view of themselves was noticeable from day one, and from the moment I got on the plane from Miami to Havana, my world view was constantly challenged. I was forced to understand a country by experience, and to not rely on the prior knowledge taught to me by textbooks and peers. I was able learn about people, to have conversations with them that gave me a look into their perceived past and present. This made me develop a new perspective, a view that confronted my previous knowledge of Cuba’s and America’s relationship. At first it was hard to understand how Americans can be greeted so warmly, when there was propaganda placed on well traveled roadsides inferring that the embargo is a form of genocide, an embargo put in place by the American government. It was obvious that the Cuban people were not stuck in the past, but were eager for the future, ready for a new friendship with The United States, a country that is only 90 miles north of them.
The images show the poverty that the Cuban people live with. While also incorporating the fact that their culture is warm, supportive and flourishing with art, music, education, and medicine.These photographs are also objects that allude to the essential self, a presence of me. I attempt to find optimism in my daily life, whether it be "finding the good in everyone" or recognizing the positives I find in a day. This is to not say that I am unaware of societal flaws or of people's flaws, it is only that I openly choose to put emphasis on the good.
To conclude, my last full day in Cuba was the most important. It was Fidel Castro’s 90th birthday, which meant huge celebrations across Cuba. We saw an orchestra comprised of all Cuban musicians playing Cuban inspired pieces of music. The composer of the group stood up to speak with us and shared their gratitude that we, Americans, were there in their country to listen to them on Castro’s birthday. Obama’s visit to Cuba and the slow lifting of the embargo is giving the Cuban people hope that soon a friendship with the United States will be rekindled. Through all their suffering they still have maintained a strong sense of nationalism and identity. The greatest thing about Cuba is not its architecture, old cars, cigars or rum. It is the people. This body of work is dedicated to them and their fervent pride for Cuba, and continuous hope for a better life.