“Flying into Cuba, I definitely expected hot weather, rum, cigars and nice cars. Basically all the stereotypes you know of Cuba. The things that made the most impression on me however were the people and their hospitality. I stayed in a Casa Particular with locals Felix and Lidia. They could not have been more helpful in offering me insight into the city’s history, culture and advice on getting the most out of my time in Havana. Connecting with the locals was surprisingly easy, I had some incredible interactions with locals who all seemed very outgoing and friendly. Conversations with complete strangers came naturally each day as I walked throughout the city on foot. We connected on everything from art, food and recommendations on where I should head next.

The city’s pride and preservation of it’s culture and history is remarkable. Their museums and galleries offer incredible insight to their heritage. I felt very fortunate to be able to see such a large collection of remarkable Latin American paintings and sculpture at the city’s National Museum of Fine Arts. My goal was to take in as much inspiration from the city as I could. I took an abundance of reference photos and did my best to integrate and piece together as many visual connections of my trip into my final as possible. Everything from the colours to the architecture and objects I portrayed throughout my artwork are linked to my experiences and understanding of Havana”

Travel diary

Cuba is a very vibrant and hot place, bursting with character and hospitality. The streets are full of energy and music and everyone here is quick to be your friend. Looking forward to continuing to explore and connect with this great city!