Artist Talk – Cuba: Living Under The Shadow

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Sam Dobrow discusses his photographs of Cuba and presents a photostory about life in Cuba under the communist, authoritarian regime. The subject of his story “Living Under the Shadow” presents a visual and political allegory. The Cuban people live under severe oppression. Any desire to rise up and better oneself is generally frowned upon; under communism, everyone is equal. But that is definitely not the case, there are the privileged few and the general population. Laws are intended to keep everyone equal. Anyone breaking the law is subject to arrest and imprisonment. As a result, the general population lives a poor and humble life. They become wall flowers, hiding in plain site. The photographs in this collection depict that scene of hiding in plain site as the Cuban people are photographed in deep shadows, silhouetted, and obscured by darkness.