‘Cuba Is’ opens at the Annenberg Space for Photography in Los Angeles on September 9, 2017 to March 4, 2018

Revealing complexities both on and off the island, ‘Cuba Is’ explores aspects of Cuba not easily accessed by foreigners, and sometimes not even by Cubans themselves. Born from indigenous, African and European roots, divergent politics and limitations in communication and commerce, the Cuba seen in this exhibition goes beyond the folklore and offers new insight into its current reality. Over 120 photos feature subjects ranging from defiant youth known as “Frikis” to the hard-partying children of the 1%, the underground system of sharing digital content—“El paquete”—to Miami’s Chonga girls.

‘Cuba Is’ includes archival images and work done on assignment by four featured photographers: Elliott Erwitt, Leysis Quesada, Raúl Cañibano and Tria Giovan. An original documentary follows these photographers as they capture unseen images of life in Havana and beyond.