À propos du livre
Cuba Plastica
I was fortunate enough to spend two months on the island of Cuba in Spring 2005. Most of my time there I spent wandering through towns and citys talking to local people, taking photos, sketching and writing about my experi ences. In all I brought back 1500 photographs and a very full journal.
The photographs exhibited in my solo exhibition Cuba Plastica were all taken on a Holga 120FN. This is a cheap medium format ‘toy’ camera with a plastic lens and body. The cheap construction means the images it produces are ‘dream like’, vignetted and slightly out of focus.
During my time in Cuba I found myself collecting images of the people I saw on the streets. I was captivated by what I was confronted with, a scene which seems so alien in our closed-door society. I experienced people living and socializing on the streets, sharing bottles of rum, chatting and dancing; the backdrop to this being the amazing tapestry of crumbling architectural reminders of Cuba’s past decadence.
I feel the lo-fi nature of this camera manufactured in the Peoples Republic of China seemed an appropiate metaphor for Cuba itself with its easily observable imperfections but ultimate beauty, spirit and charm.
I was fortunate enough to spend two months on the island of Cuba in Spring 2005. Most of my time there I spent wandering through towns and citys talking to local people, taking photos, sketching and writing about my experi ences. In all I brought back 1500 photographs and a very full journal.
The photographs exhibited in my solo exhibition Cuba Plastica were all taken on a Holga 120FN. This is a cheap medium format ‘toy’ camera with a plastic lens and body. The cheap construction means the images it produces are ‘dream like’, vignetted and slightly out of focus.
During my time in Cuba I found myself collecting images of the people I saw on the streets. I was captivated by what I was confronted with, a scene which seems so alien in our closed-door society. I experienced people living and socializing on the streets, sharing bottles of rum, chatting and dancing; the backdrop to this being the amazing tapestry of crumbling architectural reminders of Cuba’s past decadence.
I feel the lo-fi nature of this camera manufactured in the Peoples Republic of China seemed an appropiate metaphor for Cuba itself with its easily observable imperfections but ultimate beauty, spirit and charm.
Caractéristiques et détails
- Catégorie principale: Photographie artistique
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Format choisi: Petit carré, 18×18 cm
# de pages: 80 - Date de publication: juin 28, 2011
- Langue English
- Mots-clés Fine Art Photography, Cuba, Travel
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À propos du créateur
Paul Cowan
Edinburgh
Leith based photographer working in editorial, architectural, commercial and travel.