Los Cubanos: Searching for Cuba's Soul, Hardcover

Journey into the soul of Cuba!

Cuba is one of the most enticing, exotic, and romantic places that photographers can hope to find. The lucky ones get to spend a week or two just in Havana, while others go on day-trips to the tobacco farms in the Valle de Viñales, or take a tour to the eastern tip of the island to visit Santiago de Cuba.

But photographer Volker Figueredo-Véliz wanted to dive into the authentic, local routine of everyday Cuban life. He lived in Havana's old town and explored the city on foot with his camera every day for months. He had already photographed Cuba's clichés years ago, so this time he was on the lookout for fresh images of a different, more enigmatic Cuba. In short, he was searching for Cuba's soul.

He took every day as it came, and had no plan or specific goals. Every day felt like a series of stories that unfolded before his eyes. These were tiny, trivial events, everyday scenes, and quiet, poetic moments alongside unexpected, quirky, and sometimes crazy episodes.

Featuring an introduction by Pulitzer Prize winner Anthony DePalma, Los Cubanos is a beautiful collection of black and white images, along with the stories behind the photographs, that Figueredo-Véliz's camera froze in time in a fraction of a second, and that come back to life in this book.

About author(s):Volker Figueredo Véliz, born in 1953 as Volker Büffel, worked for almost forty years in various functions at a large computer manufacturer. After accepting an early retirement offer, he moved to Cuba, where he met his wife. As a photographer, he has made a name for himself around the world with his photo series about Cuba. He lived in Havana for several years, found his photographic inspiration there, and also conducted photo workshops in Cuba for photographers from all over the world. With his Leica he is always looking for that which is typical of Cuba, but which is rarely seen--or cannot be seen--by holiday-makers or visitors. The fact that he also took root in Cuba with his family has made it possible for him to win the trust of the people. He gained access to a world behind the scenes of what tourists usually see, from the everyday, to the manners and customs, to the joys and sorrows of the Cubans. Figueredo's black and white photographs, which at first are not associated with colorful Cuba, appear authentic and remain etched in the viewer's memory. His series Cuba Inside was exhibited in several galleries in Germany. Figueredo has lived in Germany with his wife and daughter since 2018, but continues to visit Cuba whenever possible.