Happy Days and Broken Dreams

Crumbling palaces, exotic cars, multi-coloured people and vibrant music make it easy to fall in love with Cuba. But look beyond the stereotypes of the Caribbean island and you find a delicate, complex and rapidly changing cosmos. Over 50 years of socialist government and international isolation have left Cuba with a legacy that is unique in the world. No other country has experienced such a prolonged period of dictatorial, socialist government. During this time, the country has taken steps forward but certainly has taken many steps backwards at the same time. This period has brought happiness but has also often inflicted incredible pain and fear upon the people. In their dire need, people were forced to collaborate, to improvise, to find joy in simplicity. While life for the average Cuban is still not easy and many live in great poverty, there can nevertheless so much beauty and happiness be found. It is easy to dismiss Cuban’s period of socialism as a failed experiment in history. But such view would be too simplistic. As much as Cuba might be a testimony that socialism doesn’t work, it puts the fingers in the wounds of capitalism hinting at the many misdirection and failures of the glorified alternative. These images are part of my ongoing book project about Cuba that explores the contradictions between poverty and happiness, socialism and capitalism, tradition and modernity. It poses as many questions about a seemingly failed form of government as it poses questions about our Western ideals and way of life.