Young Cuba

© Ekaterina Frolova - Image from the Young Cuba photography project © Ekaterina Frolova - Image from the Young Cuba photography project © Ekaterina Frolova - Image from the Young Cuba photography project View all images ↓
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  • Dates
    2023 - 2023
  • Author
  • Topics Contemporary Issues, Documentary, Editorial, Portrait, Social Issues, Travel
  • Location Havana, Cuba
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"Young Cuba" captures a vibrant new generation from Havana—diverse, progressive, and bold — set against various backdrops, ranging from abandoned colonial houses to remnants of Soviet buildings, and tells the story of young Cubans' dreams.

As a 25-year-old from Russia coming to Cuba, I wanted to see beyond Cuba’s Soviet past. 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. 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, putting together a collection of young Cubans' dreams.

Here are some of the dreams and wishes they shared with me:

“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

“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

“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

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

“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

“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 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

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

“Be completely free. Learn about the diverse cultures of the planet. Transcend in death,” — Hugo

"Fulfilling my dream of being an artist is the only wish I have." – Mickey

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

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

"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

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

More can be found at the website: https://ekaterinafrolova-ph.com/youngcuba

© Ekaterina Frolova - Image from the Young Cuba photography project
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Cosplayers. 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.

© Ekaterina Frolova - Image from the Young Cuba photography project
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Tattoo Community. ‘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.

© Ekaterina Frolova - Image from the Young Cuba photography project
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Gamers. 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.

© Ekaterina Frolova - Image from the Young Cuba photography project
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Rockers. 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.

© Ekaterina Frolova - Image from the Young Cuba photography project
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Aesthetics. This is a group of individuals passionate about aesthetics, vibe, and fashion. In Cuba, it is hard to find stylish, modern clothes at stores, and the best way to get new outfits is to have them sent by relatives and friends who live abroad. The picture was taken in front of the abandoned tribunes of a Soviet stadium complex.

© Ekaterina Frolova - Image from the Young Cuba photography project
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Skaters. 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.

© Ekaterina Frolova - Image from the Young Cuba photography project
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Hip-Hop. 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. Some of them also skateboard, as these two communities tend to intertwine. The photo was taken next to the Capitol building, one of Havana's most famous landmarks.

© Ekaterina Frolova - Image from the Young Cuba photography project
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Nature Enthusiasts. 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.

© Ekaterina Frolova - Image from the Young Cuba photography project
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Trova Musicians. These are local musicians who create soul music, a genre that could be defined as a new wave of trova cubana. The portrait was taken in an unfinished and later abandoned music hall on the territory of the University of the Arts (ISA) campus.

Young Cuba by Ekaterina Frolova

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