CUBAN MUSLIMS, TROPICAL FAITH
Joan Alvado
MAY 2nd to JUNE 30th
LA FNAC SAN AGUSTÍN
Cuba is one of the last countries in the world where Islam has been introduced. Although it is a quite unknown phenomenon, the number of converted Cubans has increased in last years. This growth is related to political opening scenario in Cuba, which has also resulted in greater tolerance towards religions. According to Alvado, Cuba has about 3,000 converted muslims who are present in several districts of Havana, but also in many other provinces such as Camagüey, Santiago or Varadero.
How is it possible for a Muslim community to emerge within a Caribbean island governed by a socialist system?
The project “Cuban Muslims, Tropical Faith” does not pretend to give closed answers, but to contribute giving keys for the reflection. Deepening one of the most unique Muslim communities in the world, Alvado gives an innovative approach on Cuba and Islam. The goal of Joan Alvado is to break visual stereotypes, questioning issues such as identity, faith and traditions.
ABOUT JOAN ALVADO
Born in Altea (Alicante) in 1979, Joan Alvado has been living in Barcelona since 2005. His photographs have been published in newsweek, The Washington Post, CNN, The New York Times, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, Polka Magazine, El País, Hurriyet, Discover Catalunya, 7K, Huffington Post, Voima or Le Point, among others. Part of his work has been exhibited at various events and photography festivals in Spain, USA, Cuba, Turkey, France, Slovenia or Italy. From 2013, he collaborates with the collective of Turkish photographers NAR fotos, and its archive is distributed by agencies like AFP, Getty Images, Laif or Luz Foto. Between 2014 and 2015, her “Escuela de Pastores” project was awarded in the Emerging Talent of Lens Culture, selected for the program “Discoveries PhotoEspaña”, and exhibited at festivals such as Docfield (Bcn), FotoNoviembre (Tenerife), Photogenic (Bcn) Or the November Photographic of Havana. In 2016, his project “Cuban Muslims, Tropical Faith” wins the New Fnac Photography Talent and is selected finalist in the Emerging DST program of Encontros da Imagem festival (Braga, Portugal).
