Havana-Creeping into Modernity One Stroke at a Time

When Havanans have access to colour, they apply it with a heavy brush … intense, powerful, striking dabs on an otherwise monochromatic and deteriorating landscape. Colour has always been around, lurking in Havana cultural life, most noted and obvious, the arts, music and architecture. Although suppressed over the past half century, new, bold shades are seeping out from the cracks in the canvas. While paint is desperately lacking in the crumbling architecture, and vision can be clouded by exhaust spewing Ladas, vivid colour is applied liberally to the everyday palette – the showy street costume, the impromptu sax playing in a refurbished plaza, “American cars” dressed up in pop colours cruise by, the full spectrum and style displaying in street art.  Locals meander down the Paseo del Prado (a long, wide boulevard built in the late 18th Century) in sexy, current, bright attire – chatting vigorously and, generally, minding their business. Cuban art is on display under tropical vegetation waiting for the highly cherished tourist currency. Locals usually just browse.

For more on the Cuban colour palette see

 http://heathersimondsphotography.com/2012/11/21/more-havana-hotrods/

Brilliant and Striking Cuban Art

Cuban Art Displayed on Paseo del Prado, Havana

Smiling Cuban Girl Dancing In The Street

Color Against Havanan Crumbling Backdrop

American Cars Add Splash of Color To Cubans Lives