David Creedon Cork photographer | Portrait, Documentary, PR, Music, Press Photography

Behind Open Doors

Trapped between traditional society and modernity, Cuba is a country caught in its own history. The common clichés of 1950 automobiles and crumbling architecture have all reinforced a stereotype of Cuba as a vestige of the cold war, a place where ghosts of the past still haunt the present. A lack of knowledge and understanding of the country’s historical narrative have added to an unbalanced view of Cuba as a tormented purgatory. This perspective ignores the legacies of colonial empire and hegemonic governance whose influence still pertain today. The portraits from this series document the citizens of Cuba in their home environment and capture scenes that are reflective of their character not normally seen. The photographs were taken in the various provinces of the country from 2011 to 2013. During time on the project you became aware that these people still retain family values and a richness of life that would appear to be disappearing in the more affluent western societies.

Lazara Manual de Dios 89 - Centro Habana; Trapped between traditional society and modernity, Cuba is a country caught in its own history. The common clichés of 1950 automobiles and crumbling architecture have all reinforced a stereotype of Cuba as a vestige of the cold war, a place where ghosts of the past still haunt the present. A lack of knowledge and understanding of the country’s historical narrative have added to an unbalanced view of Cuba as a tormented purgatory. This perspective ignores the legacies of colonial empire and hegemonic governance whose influence still pertain today. The portraits from this series document the citizens of Cuba in their home environment and capture scenes that are reflective of their character not normally seen. The photographs were taken in the various provinces of the country from 2011 to 2013. During time on the project you became aware that these people still retain family values and a richness of life that would appear to be disappearing in the more affluent western societies. Caption

Caption

Odelin does her neighbour Kirenia hair while Nortis and Marian watch television.- Sol Street, La Habana Vieja

Maria and Raul; Raul who is blind sits on a rocking chair while his wife sleeps - Paso Marti Centro Habana

Maria Mercedes 49

Statistics from the United Nations Children Fund, released in September 2012, show that Cuba has an infant mortality rate of 4.6 per thousand live births the lowest in Latin America and mortality for children 1-5 yearsof age to 7.0 per 1,000, which ranks Cuba in thirtieth place among 194 nations and first in Latin America.

David de Dios Hernandez, 1 year Diaz de Octobre; Statistics from the United Nations Children Fund, released in September 2012, show that Cuba has an infant mortality rate of 4.6 per thousand live births the lowest in Latin America and mortality for children 1-5 yearsof age to 7.0 per 1,000, which ranks Cuba in thirtieth place among 194 nations and first in Latin America.

Orlando sits in the art deco lobby of the Lopez Serrano Building in Havana. Located onthe corner of calle 13 and L, Vedado, the building was the first skyscraper in Havana andcompleted in 1932

Orlando Lazaro Ortega; Orlando sits in the art deco lobby of the Lopez Serrano Building in Havana. Located onthe corner of calle 13 and L, Vedado, the building was the first skyscraper in Havana andcompleted in 1932

Yurisley 22

Miquel’s skin glistens from sweat as he sits down to enjoy a cigarette. He has just returned home from working in the fields where he has been cutting grass with a machete and wooden gancho which he uses as an aid in pull the grass that has been cut out of his way.

Miquel Angel Sanchez, 52,Sancti Spíritus; Miquel’s skin glistens from sweat as he sits down to enjoy a cigarette. He has just returned home from working in the fields where he has been cutting grass with a machete and wooden gancho which he uses as an aid in pull the grass that has been cut out of his way.

Ramon Gonsalez Viola, 70; Centro Habana

Antonio Rodriguez Diaz 67; Guines Mayabeque Province

Kenia; La Habana Vieja

FJordenis Ortiz 13

Today is Maria’s birthday and there is some excitement as she will have a party later on in the day. The house is deceptive and looks small from the outside when you see it from the narrow cobblestone street. Inside, the house stretches way back and Fidelia is presently having it renovated and converting it into a luxury Casa to cater for tourists. She is presently putting in a swimming pool for her guests and on the top floor is a roof garden that will be a restaurant. Since 2010 there have been a number of regulatory changes with regard to private enterprise and Cubans are now encouraged to open up small businesses and since they were implemented it is estimated that around 400,000 people are now working forthemselves. The automobile is a 1950’s Buick Century so called because it was the first production model that could reach a speed of 100 mph.

Fidelia Sandual,Maria Sandual Today is Maria’s birthday and there is some excitement as she will have a party later on in the day. The house is deceptive and looks small from the outside when you see it from the narrow cobblestone street. Inside, the house stretches way back and Fidelia is presently having it renovated and converting it into a luxury Casa to cater for tourists. She is presently putting in a swimming pool for her guests and on the top floor is a roof garden that will be a restaurant. Since 2010 there have been a number of regulatory changes with regard to private enterprise and Cubans are now encouraged to open up small businesses and since they were implemented it is estimated that around 400,000 people are now working forthemselves. The automobile is a 1950’s Buick Century so called because it was the first production model that could reach a speed of 100 mph.

Mangiolis 23, and Leandro 21 - Astor Hotel, Centro Habana

Caridad Fernandez Lig, 73 Casablanca Municipality of Regla

Jose Luis lives in this small apartment in La Habana Vieja. He has two children who nowlive with there mother. Behind him are photographs of his family who all now reside in the United States.

Jose Luis Sobrino Leon; Jose Luis lives in this small apartment in La Habana Vieja. He has two children who nowlive with there mother. Behind him are photographs of his family who all now reside in the United States.

Luis Pantaleon 60

Vincente suffers from dementia and is cared for by his daugher who is also caring for her bedridden mother. She has placed Vicente in the doorway so he can still be a part of famly life.

The mortality of Vincente Vincente suffers from dementia and is cared for by his daugher who is also caring for her bedridden mother. She has placed Vicente in the doorway so he can still be a part of famly life.