Page 48 - Libro 2

FIAP EVENTS FIAP EVENTS

In The Streets of Cuba

By Romain Nero MFIAP EFIAP/d2 HonEFIAP
Luxembourg

For three unforgettable weeks, I explored Cuba with a
camera slung over my shoulder. My journey took me through
the faded elegance of Havana, the French-inspired boulevards of
Cienfuegos, the colonial heart of Trinidad, the revolutionary city
of Santa Clara, the tobacco-growing landscapes of Viñales, and
finally the vibrant atmosphere of Santiago de Cuba. Each place
FIAP Events possessed its own rhythm, yet everywhere I encountered the FIAP Events
same warmth, resilience, and generosity.

As a photographer, I quickly discovered that Cuba rewards
those who slow down. Although its vintage American cars and
colourful façades are irresistible subjects, I soon realised that my
strongest images lay a street or two away, where daily life unfolded
Romain Nero naturally. I spent hours simply walking, waiting for light to fall
across a doorway or for an unexpected encounter to emerge.

What struck me most was how open daily life appeared. Doors and windows stood wide
open. As I passed, my lens caught brief but intimate glimpses of ordinary routines, not intrusive
observations, but scenes visible to anyone wandering by. The boundary between public and
private seemed remarkably thin, allowing homes and streets to merge into one continuous
neighbourhood.
I learned that Cuba is not simply seen; it is experienced through patience. Some of my
favourite images came only after spending twenty or thirty minutes quietly observing a single
corner. Eventually someone would emerge carrying fresh bread, neighbours would pause for
conversation, children would chase a football into the frame, or shafts of golden light would
illuminate an open doorway for only a few precious seconds.
One image remains especially vivid in my memory. I had been waiting for the right balance
of light and movement when, in a split second, a polished 1950s American car glided through
the frame, a woman struggled against the wind with a broken umbrella, and a man stepped out
of a café taking a drink from a bottle. Individually, each was entirely unremarkable; together,
they formed a composition that could never have been staged. It became one of those rare
photographs in which timing, light, and chance aligned perfectly, revealing the spontaneity and
quiet theatre of Cuban life.

When I look back on those three weeks, it is not the famous monuments that I remember most
vividly. It is the glimpse through an open window where three generations shared an evening
meal; the old man concentrating over a game of dominoes; the bicycle mechanic smiling proudly
after coaxing another few years from a machine that most people would have discarded.

Although Cuba is often celebrated for its vivid colours: the photographs in this portfolio
are presented in black and white. This was a deliberate artistic choice. By removing colour, the
images invite viewers to focus on what first drew my attention: the people, the quality of light,
the textures of weathered walls, the expressions on faces, and the subtle interactions that define
everyday existence. Black and white strips away the visual distractions that can sometimes
romanticise Cuba and instead reveals its timeless humanity. The contrasts between light and
shadow echo those within the country itself: between past and future, privation and joy, decay
and resilience. Monochrome also creates a visual unity across the three-week journey, linking the
different locations into a single narrative. Rather than presenting Cuba as a colourful postcard
destination, this exhibition invites viewers to discover a place of enduring character, where
dignity, resourcefulness, and human connection transcend colour itself.
To see the complete set of images with which Romain Nero gained his MFIAP, go to:
https://www.fiap.net/en/portfolios/mfiap/romain-nero

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