Campesino Cuba:
Photographs by Richard Sharum
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© Richard Sharum
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Americans only know the Cuba of Havana, and not the real Cuba, which is mostly comprised of those who live off of the land, the Campesinos.
“Cuba was from its dawn an agricultural nation and even today, although to a lesser extent, it continues to be; this is why the country man, the Campesino, plays a primary role in continuing to shape the national and cultural identity.” – Aldo Daniel Naranjo Campesino Cuba features black and white photographs by American photographer Richard Sharum, depicting the the lives of isolated farmers, or "Campesinos", and their intertwined relationship with the land they depend on. The histories of these communities have formed the backbone of Cuba, and yet they are rarely depicted in photographic representations of the country. |
“These classic photographs from contemporary, rural Cuba, document a disappearing way of life, pieced together through
the everyday rhythms of the campesino people.”
– Justin Hefst, LensCulture
Richard Sharum is a documentary photographer based in the Dallas, Texas area whose work focuses on socio-economic or
social justice dilemmas. As an American, Sharum had always been intrigued by Cuba—a country still severely restricted to its citizens and under a broad embargo put in place by the US government over sixty years ago. Sharum wanted to add his own testament to the visual representation of the island. In late 2015 Sharum began researching Compesinos and their wider communities at a time of national transition.
“I was not interested in giving credence to expected topics such as renowned political figures, classic cars or the colorful streets of Havana. I was more interested in taking a long and detailed look at the most isolated population group and their position in Cuban history. For this I knew I had to get deep into the land where the blood meets the soil and spend years with those not easily seen. I wanted to see Cuban’s as they were and in a way which forbade any memory of what I had been told about them.”
-Richard Shorum
Traveling across Cuba, Richard's interests initially lay with investigating the migration of the young male agricultural workforce from rural communities—farming tobacco, coffee, sugarcane, cattle and marine harvests—to urban areas. Since the advent of the internet, rural districts have witnessed an exodus of young men in search of better financial opportunities, or to escape a life of back-breaking labor and general solitude. With Cuba in a near perpetual food shortage, the cascading effect from less agricultural labor has grim implications for future generations.
the everyday rhythms of the campesino people.”
– Justin Hefst, LensCulture
Richard Sharum is a documentary photographer based in the Dallas, Texas area whose work focuses on socio-economic or
social justice dilemmas. As an American, Sharum had always been intrigued by Cuba—a country still severely restricted to its citizens and under a broad embargo put in place by the US government over sixty years ago. Sharum wanted to add his own testament to the visual representation of the island. In late 2015 Sharum began researching Compesinos and their wider communities at a time of national transition.
“I was not interested in giving credence to expected topics such as renowned political figures, classic cars or the colorful streets of Havana. I was more interested in taking a long and detailed look at the most isolated population group and their position in Cuban history. For this I knew I had to get deep into the land where the blood meets the soil and spend years with those not easily seen. I wanted to see Cuban’s as they were and in a way which forbade any memory of what I had been told about them.”
-Richard Shorum
Traveling across Cuba, Richard's interests initially lay with investigating the migration of the young male agricultural workforce from rural communities—farming tobacco, coffee, sugarcane, cattle and marine harvests—to urban areas. Since the advent of the internet, rural districts have witnessed an exodus of young men in search of better financial opportunities, or to escape a life of back-breaking labor and general solitude. With Cuba in a near perpetual food shortage, the cascading effect from less agricultural labor has grim implications for future generations.
Number of photographs: TBA
Rental fee: TBA
Rental fee: TBA