CONCRETE IMPRESSIONS: A POETIC VISION OF CUBAN GRAFFITI

Abstract

For those familiar with the sight of Cuban streets, particularly that of Havana, the photos represented in this series of short poems will not be of surprise seeming as different forms of graffiti seen in words, phrases from famous revolutionaries, or quotations from Cuban patriarchs are a common sight and form of political and ideological expression in Cuban culture. Graffiti in this sense sparks not a feeling of societal rebellion in Cuba, but rather takes a very different place in urban Cuban culture promoting often revolutionary ideologies of the past through historical figures and words plastered along concrete walls and structures. Concrete walls, often the urban back drop of such graffiti, takes the form of a common motif throughout these five poems. Concrete represents a structure of durability and consistency that appeals to the message of graffiti throughout the island. Within such a metaphorical statement erupts a scandal of image versus reality in Cuban society, a society which arguably sees revolutionary ideology at work on walls perhaps at times more than within Cuba's growing modern culture that eagerly seeks ways to break through the old concrete ridden streets. That is to say, one is left to question whether the image on the concrete is as "concrete" as it appears.