From the series “Querida Cuba” © Colby Tarsitano
Photography & Imaging alum Colby Tarsitano was recently interviewed by LensCulture's Cat Lachowskyj about her work from Cuba, where she spent a semester in her junior year at NYU.
"In 2015, after decades of hostile government mediation, Cuba and the United States finally restored their tense diplomatic relations. While this affiliation remains incredibly complicated, the American fascination with Cuba as an inaccessible region has softened, and many individuals have travelled to the island to witness and document its contemporary culture. The issue with this perspective is that it often perpetuates the exotic definitions of Cuba and its people, focusing on the pre-established tropes that many non-Cuban individuals internalize before their arrival.
In an effort to subvert this stereotypical visualization of the country, photographer Colby Tarsitano travelled to Cuba with her camera, approaching her surroundings in a natural and relaxed manner. Instead of seeking out the tropes of highly-saturated colors and old cars, she focused on natural ambient lighting and what she calls “quiet moments,” those glimpses of people acting natural with their loved ones or in solitude. The resulting images make up her series Querida Cuba, a collection of photographs that the photographer hopes will redefine the island’s generalizations.
In this interview, Tarsitano speaks to LensCulture about her personal approach as a documentary photographer, the stories behind her images, and what she hopes viewers take away from her poetic visuals."