Old Age in Cuban Photography
Grethel Morell’s recent feature on Hypermedia Magazine titled “Notes on the back of the mirror. Old age in Cuban photography” articulates that the mere existence of an aging face in the realm of photographing the elderly does not necessarily imply a thematic focus for the artist. The present-day visual vocabulary is teeming with poverty-stricken, homeless, and disabled elderly people —full of commonplace stereotypes.
Through “Notes on the back of the mirror,” Morell showcases the work of select contemporary Cuban photographers, including that of Jíbaro Photos members Raúl Cañibano, Arien Chang, and Leysis Quesada Vera. These photographers have taken their vision beyond the aging body to appreciate the adventure of what survives, rather than dwell backwards.
The full article with Morell’s commentary on each photographer’s approach and imagery can be found here.
Below are snippets and a selection of images from three Jíbaro Photos members. We remain grateful to Grethel Morell for her insightful piece on Cuba’s growing aging population.
Raúl Cañibano
“Cañibano goes to great depths to record the environments in which his protagonists are absorbed in and presents a view that tries to focus on the positive, despite the huge socio-demographic limitations.” - Grethel Morell
All images in this gallery © Raúl Cañibano
Arien Chang
“Chang focuses on the elderly who have exceeded 100 years of life, portraying them in intimate spaces and introspective settings—the narrative moving towards the subjective, capturing allegories and belongings.” - Grethel Morell
All images in this gallery © Arien Chang
Leysis Quesada Vera
“Quesada Vera, in her essay Devotion (2009-11) takes images of the elderly in different nursing homes of the city, who are cared for by nuns, many of whom are elderly themselves. Her vast portraiture of the elderly stands out in her works about her hometown and the city life.” - Grethel Morell
All images in this gallery © Leysis Quesada Vera