After a month-long journey exploring the different parts of Cuba, photographer Jermain Cikic quickly realized that this island, famous for its picturesque beaches, vibrant culture, and rich history, is grappling with significant challenges. While hopping on numerous buses and immersing himself in local cultures, Cikic managed to reach beneath the veneer of romantic Cuban attractiveness and uncover a complex reality many visitors and outsiders may not fully comprehend. As a result, Esperando is a body of work that focuses on the duality of the country–showing the contrasts between city and countryside as well as the differences between the general perception of Cuba and the harsh realities its inhabitants face.
With Esperando, which can mean both waiting and anticipating, Cikic tries
to shine a light on both the struggle and spirit of the people of Cuba. It encapsulates how they navigate their lives through challenges and uncertainties while simultaneously reflecting their resilience and resourcefulness. More than that, it shows a country of many faces and facets. Ranging from its quiet countryside to the vibrant city life in all its glory, agony, and poignancy.
Cikic spent the entire month of January 2023 in Cuba, exploring different parts of the island by immersing in local culture. He did so by staying in “Casas Particulares,” homes owned by local families that rent out rooms to travelers. These Casas Particulares not only provide guests with a place to stay but also offer a glimpse into the daily lives of their families. Moving through the country this way allowed Cikic to connect with the locals and learn about their culture, traditions, and way of life.
In cities such as Havana or Santiago de Cuba, Cikic witnessed a lively and fast-paced environment with streets filled with colorful vintage cars, honking horns, and crowds of people going about their daily routines. In contrast, the countryside showed Cuba’s stunning nature, where people engage in traditional agricultural practices, such as farming and fishing, to sustain their livelihoods. The countryside exudes a sense of peace and tranquility, away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
This contrast between the cities and the countryside in Cuba reflects the duality of
the island. While the cities represent vibrant dynamism, the countryside embodies tradition, simplicity, and natural beauty. At the same time, Cuba is struggling with a deep financial crisis. The country has food shortages, growing inflation, and frequent power cuts. While Western tourists feast on authentic cigars in classic old-timers, many locals line up in front of grocery stores hoping to buy essential food items. The inequalities and disparities in access to goods and services are vast, with many Cubans struggling with low wages, limited access to basic necessities, and inadequate infrastructure.
Cikic mentions that the truth of life is found on the streets. By photographing people’s daily lives, their existence, and the way they try to fight for their space and happiness, he hopes to give a voice to the underrepresented and to tell a story about those who have had history done to them, be it by war, natural disasters or other crises.
Esperando further expands Cikic’s body of work that focuses on themes like displacement and migration. With more and more Cubans fleeing the country, Cikic (himself a child of a migrant) focuses on what’s left. About the people he met along the way, Cikic says: “The frustration and discontent among the locals are palpable. But I see openness and kindness in the eyes of the hopeless.” Cikic sees Esperando as another way of showing how international powers can affect people on a local or even individual scale. And how we all share a responsibility to take care of it.
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BIO
As a Dutch/Bosnian photographer, Jermain s practices focus on topics related to post-war communities, migration, displacement and home. His subjects are mostly people in their own environments as he is curious about what lies behind their eyes, where they have been and where they hope to go.
Jermain s work mainly encompasses documentary photography, while learning traditional printing techniques. He works with a direct and sincere approach: playing right at the intersection between aesthetic creativity and uncompromising reality. Capturing the people and places that he encounters with a sensitive eye where vibrancy and intensity come forward in the use of colour. His images are the result of intuition and patience while being out in the field.
His current projects are focused on fringe people and places that are often overlooked by society. Jermain likes to immersive himself in their environment to get a deeper connection with the location and its humanity. With his body of work, he strives to create awareness around complex topics around the world.
‘I enjoy finding photographs that capture candid moments and that embrace the everyday. Uncover beauty and significance in the ordinary. I always try to engage with my head but also with my heart.’
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Credits:
Photography by Jermain Cikic
Text by Mikel van den Boogaard
