Over the course of three visits to Cuba between 2020 and 2023, Vourakis travelled the length of the country, spending periods of time with different communities and immersing himself in their ways of life. De Cara Al Sol, focuses on five cities in Cuba that Vourakis felt most connected to, from Viñales in the west, through the La Habana province and Trinidad, to Santiago de Cuba and Baracoa in the east. The intention of the work for Vourakis was to capture a sense of Cuba that wasn’t obscured by romantic depictions of the country as an idea and a tourist destination. Reflecting on the project, Vourakis says “it’s awesome to see just how much this project has achieved and taken on a life of its own, when it just started out as a trip.”
Throughout De Cara Al Sol, one of the recurring themes that runs through Vourakis’ images explore childhood and the memories that are forged during that age. This is something that deeply resonates with the photographer, as something that he uses his works to capture. Vourakis describes one image in particular, of a young girl hanging upside down from a climbing frame while other kids play in the background. “While I was taking this image,” he says, “I had this rush of a feeling that I experienced a lot in Cuba, which was this feeling that allowed me to unlock memories.”
Diego Vourakis will be at Claire de Rouen on Sat 27 Jul, for the book's UK launch and signing. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to The Cuba Foundation and Give2Cuba.
