POLITICAL ART OF CUBA tHE BILLBOARD

Soon after the Cuban revolution in 1959, U.S. Attorney General Robert Kennedy repeatedly declared that overthrowing the government of Cuba was “top priority of the United States government - all else is secondary - no time, money, effort or manpower is to be spared.” President John F. Kennedy himself was aware that allies “think we’re slightly demented” on the subject of Cuba. In a 2021 UN vote, despite 184 countries voting in favour of lifting the economic embargo on Cuba and only 2 against, further tightened economic sanctions continue - 63 years after the Revolution and with no relief in sight. In the Cuban landscape along streets and highways throughout the island, billboards broadcast the Cuban people’s continued resistance to and defiance of the embargo. I consider the Cuban style of political messaging an art form and have traveled throughout the country to document roadside visual messages.