Sunday, June 20, 2010

Cuba.






Cuba. Photographs by Jeffrey Milstein. The Monacelli Press, 2010. 128 pp., 80 colour illustrations, 9x6".

"Trained as an architect, Jeffrey Milstein has an eye for symmetry, line, color, and detail. Focusing on streetscape and street life, he has created a unique portrait of Cuba that delves deep into the soul of that country.

As Milstein explained in an article for Creative Review, 'I have always been drawn to old industrial architecture - the decay and the sculptural shapes. I love to wander around these abandoned places with their history, and layers of old peeling paint and newer graffiti and paint ball splattering. It is a reflection on how everything eventually decays, no matter how hard we try, everything including our own bodies slowly decay, and yet it can be very beautiful.' "


In an introduction to this book Nilo Cruz says:

"The images contained in this book do more than mirror reality in Cuba. They offer an orientation to its complexities.

They present glimpses that are factual, realistic, honest, mixed with a breath of lyricism and quotidian simplicity, capturing our attention and allowing us to see the unseen.

They get us in touch with the depth of our own inwardness and expand our sympathies not only for the Cuban people but also for humanity."


You can see more of Jeffrey Milstein photography work here.


First quote from the publisher's description at photo-eye ; second quote from Random House.

2 comments:

Josephine said...

incredible photos! i've always wanted to visit cuba.

Rare Autumn said...

I'm also intrigued with cuba - but I think the shapes and colours and angles used in these photographs brings forth something new, which I though was very interesting.

I was really drawn to this quote too:

"I have always been drawn to old industrial architecture - the decay and the sculptural shapes. I love to wander around these abandoned places with their history"

as that's what I do myself a lot...