Alex Castro presents photographic exhibition "This is how we Cubans are" in Berlin

June 16, 2019

Alex Castro Soto del Valle is the son of the well-known leader of the Cuban revolution: Fidel Castro. Unlike his father, he did not opt for oratory, but rather for a much more silent art, but also with clear messages. In his exhibition "This is how we Cubans are" you can see photographs exclusively in black and white that reflect daily life in Cuba. Buildings, people and impressive skies. In the center of the exhibition is the largest photograph: a portrait of his father looking towards the sun. A photograph that Alex Castro took six years ago.

Deutsche Welle: Alex Castro, thank you for this interview. Why are the photographs exclusively in black and white?

Alex Castro: The photographs in this exhibition are in black and white, but with different motives, depending on what I want to express and show, and always depending on who sees them. They have a lot of subjectivity. I seek different angles, different lights, but that have harmony. I take the photographs with a wide-angle lens of 28 mm or 17 mm.

How did you start with photography?

I started liking photography as a child. But at that time it was only a game. Starting from 1998, I began working in Cuban television as a cameraman. And from there I have been doing my work, not only in television, but also much more professional photography work.

What do you want to express with your photographs?

I take sports photographs, fashion photographs or photographs of cultural events, portraits, landscapes. There are many things that catch my attention and that I want to show. Through photographs I have many visions. I try to show everything I see, everything that is possible. There is nothing like showing things through photography. I have done many photo reports, I have participated in many photography events and exhibitions. I am convinced that the image is very powerful compared to words. I prefer to show a photograph rather than explain something a thousand times.

The exhibition is called "This is how we Cubans are" and in the center of the exhibition we see a portrait of your father, Fidel Castro. Why?

It is because he is also part of Cubans. He is also part of what we Cubans are today. And it also reflects the Cuban people.

How do you remember your father?

Well, as a Cuban.

Did you see him much or not so much?

There are many things that are more personal experiences that, if you'll excuse me, I don't want to reveal.

No problem at all. Perhaps, if you allow me, one more question regarding the Castro name. Recently I had the opportunity to interview a lady who carries the well-known name of a German aristocratic family and she told me that it is a blessing to carry that name, but that it is not always easy. Would you say the same about the Castro name?

The difference is that there are many Castro surnames. Perhaps for some people it can be a blessing; for others it can be the opposite. I consider that for me it is a blessing. Not only because that is the surname. If I had had another surname, I wouldn't change it either. I don't think "Castro" gives advantages or disadvantages. It is just another surname. I have gotten used to living with that.

The images we see here show above all Cuba. I was never in Cuba. What is it like to live in Cuba?

Through these photographs you can see portraits of people, see what the Cuban is like and life there, the day to day. If you ask what Cuba is like, it is precisely that: the inhabitants of Havana, Cubans in their trades, in their tasks, in their happiness, their joy. All these are the different facets of Cubans. With the good things and the bad things, that we all have. But the most characteristic thing is that great joy, which is contagious to visitors. And if you want to see more of Cuba, I advise you in any case to visit Cuba.

How are Cubans living at this moment? Especially taking into account the current president of the United States, who has taken measures that are unfavorable to the Cuban people.

We Cubans are people with a lot of inventiveness. We are positive people, full of happiness. Of course we also have many worries, many problems, like everywhere in the world, but what characterizes us is that we carry a lot of joy and a lot of desire to live.

It may be that we have also had economic difficulties currently in the face of the hostile policy of that government, which far from helping Cubans is presenting greater difficulties for the Cuban people. But something that really cannot be blocked in Cuba is the happiness of Cubans, it is the freedom of Cubans and it is that inventiveness that we have to move forward, despite all the difficulties that have been presented to us for many years, many centuries with the occupations, the previous colonizations. At all times the Cuban has always known how to overcome all those difficulties.

And my photographs also reflect that: that mythical Cuban, who despite the difficulties can even laugh at their own problems. He even laughs at his own misfortunes. That is to say that with a people like that, it is very difficult for them to block them and for them to sink them.

How did Cuba change after your father passed away?

Remember that he was a leader who formed the Cuban revolution. And the Cuban revolution was formed not only on the basis of what he said, but on the basis of Cubans. That people who fought for that freedom that we have now. The fact that my father led that revolution does not mean that currently, with him not being present, that revolution is lost. On the contrary, the revolution belongs to all Cubans.

He was the leader who formed the revolution, but the Cuban people is who has participated in that revolution and who has enjoyed it. You cannot focus on a single person. The revolution is within, in the Cuban people, it is inside Cubans.