Young Cuba

As a 25-year-old from Russia coming to Cuba, I wanted to see beyond Cuba’s Soviet past and the stereotypes surrounding the country. I was eager to discover and capture change — specifically, the new generation of young people, so many of whom are remarkably diverse, progressive, and bold.

Before my trip to Havana, I had connected with two local girls, Cami and Bia, through the Couchsurfing platform. I had a feeling we had a lot in common, and it turned out my instincts did not let me down – we hit it off immediately. They helped me identify diverse youth communities in Havana and find their representatives: together, we reached out to people on social media, sought participants through their friends and friends of friends, and roamed the streets in search of vibrant and stylish youngsters throughout the town.

I captured a series of nine group portraits against various backdrops, ranging from abandoned colonial houses to the remnants of Soviet buildings, and asked each participant a set of similar questions about their lifestyles, hopes and dreams.

YOUNG CUBA

2023

november

Despite poor connection and possible Internet blackouts, Cuba has a vibrant gaming community, a gaming center and its own esport team. When competing with other foreign teams and holding online tournaments, gamers play during nighttime hours, as connection is always better at night. The picture was taken in an abandoned Soviet public pool.

GAMERS

Rock is not the most popular music genre in Cuba, but still, there are rock enthusiasts and musicians who play at local bars. These young people play in a band called Green Beans. The photograph was taken during their rehearsal, at a nearby colonial house, which is now repurposed as a bar storage room.

‘Zenit Tattoo' is a studio founded by a female tattoo artist Anita. However, it is more than just a tattoo studio: living like a tight-knit community, they also write music and make art together, raising such topics as feminism, emigration, minorities empowerment and promoting Cuban culture.

TATTOO COMMUNITY

Young Cubans get together and master their skating skills in the building of an abandoned Soviet factory, on the outskirts of Havana. They get skateboards through donations and find time to practice between their work shifts, be it repairing cars or pedaling a rickshaw, to follow their dreams.

The cosplay movement is gaining popularity in Cuba. Some cosplayers have Instagram blogs with thousands of followers, and numerous local events are organized throughout the year. Although the events are small, they take place almost every month. To make costumes, most cosplayers recycle fabrics, using their old clothes or whatever they can find at second-hand vendors.

Rappers and hip-hoppers take the stage and organize small rap battles right in the city center, using their music as a way to speak up and express themselves.

HIP-HOP

They care about the environment, eat organic food and embrace conscious living. They also call themselves hippies but their movement and style differ from what we generally understand by the term.

These are local musicians who create soul music, a genre that could be defined as a new wave of trova cubano. The portrait was taken in an unfinished and later abandoned music hall on the territory of the University of the Arts (ISA) campus.

The Dreams

“Singing. Traveling around the world. Learning about edible, medicinal, and ornamental plants, and teaching others about them,”
Beatriz

“It may sound a little childish but hey, I want to give a good life to my family, be a great interior designer and be recognized as a cosplayer,”
Claudia

“To be healthy [Hana is suffering from asthma], and for my loved ones to be healthy too. Prosperity for those who need and deserve it. To become a great YouTuber and gamer to help many people in some way or another,”
Hana

“I wish to tour Europe, live in England, and meet and play with musicians from Led Zeppelin and Pantera,”
Jimmy

“To become a well-known chef. Personally meet Elton John. Leave my country,”
Jordy

“My three wishes are to have my skates, have a motorcycle, and be happy with a girl,”
Luis

“Travel and explore different parts of the world. Be able to dedicate 100% of my time to creating geek content on social media. That there weren’t so many problems in my country, so that young people don’t have to leave their families in search of a better life and future in another country,”
Sergio

“Transmit emotions through my art, especially writing. Visit as many places as I can, share with other cultures. Possibly open a bakery, I love baking,”
Carla

“To be at peace with not being at peace within myself. To not allow others’ opinions to alter my mood. To never lose my passion, even if it’s at the expense of never being at peace,”
Daniel

“I want to travel around Europe. Publish a book. Become an international model,”
Mida

“To have all the conditions to do my best in music; to live off music; not to have to migrate to avoid hunger in the future,”
David

“That everyone listens to my trap. To represent Cuban skateboarding in another part of the world, even in Africa. Great health because I know none of this is easy, but with good health, I will achieve it,”
Victor

“To become a musician. To be able to contribute something to my society. To create a family,”
Josue

“To travel and meet different cultures. To play music throughout my life. To make friends all over the world,”
Adrian

“To be able to become a good singer like the artists who inspire me daily. To travel the world doing what I love, and to touch the hearts of people through my songs,”
Melu

“Maintain and improve the physical, mental, and spiritual integrity of myself and those around me. Live decently, doing and loving what I do. Have freedom of movement and expression in the world,” Richard

“Explore different parts of the world. Connect with diverse people from different cultures. Live experiences that make me feel alive in every sense,”
Camila

“Reconnect with myself. Graduate. Travel,”
Claudio

“No wars. No borders. Less stress in my life,”
David

“Take a solo trip through a country full of villages and rural settings. Meet all kinds of people and ways of living. Have a workshop or gallery where I can focus solely on my creative work. Achieve personal growth. Truly be satisfied with my life. Attain mental peace and health to enjoy the gift of living,”
Kevin

“My dream is to be a singer, travel with my family around the world, and be one of the best skateboarders in the world,”
Adrian

“To have my own house, a space where I can have autonomy, improve my quality of life, and ultimately be undeniably happy,”
Amanda