"Salon rosado de la tropical-Benny Moré," Havana, 2015
Peter Turnley: My first trip to Cuba was in April of 1989 when I accompanied Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbatchev who was on a state visit to see Fidel Castro. Ever since this first trip 27 years ago, I have returned regularly, and I have made more than 20 trips to Havana in these past 4 years. My essential impressions of Cuba have stayed much the same over these past three decades. Each time I have visited Cuba, I have witnessed Cubans, both as individuals, and as a community, that demonstrate tremendous grace, dignity, vibrance, joy, sensuality, strength, and forward movement in their daily lives.
Centro Havana, 2012
I have now photographed for the past four decades in over ninety countries worldwide, and have witnessed a very wide spectrum of moments of the human condition. I have a strong curiosity and appreciation for human life. While working in Cuba over these past many years, my heart has been touched by a strong sense of humanity among the Cuban people, where there is a sense that life is not only defined by the individual, but as well as by the quality of exchange that takes place as a community. This can be witnessed through the joy seen and experienced among family, friends, love, dance, music, and all forms of movement. Each time I have left Cuba, I depart with a sense of having learned a lesson in living life from my encounters with the people of Cuba.
Havana Vieja, 2014
Each photograph represents a moment, an individual, an interaction, that somewhere, somehow, touches on the soul of a people. I've been photographing now for over four decades and have come across many defining and amazing moments of the history and life of our world. One day, a year ago, I walked into a church in old Havana, Iglesia Merced. I came across a woman sitting in the front of the church, in the middle of the day, quietly breastfeeding her baby. I stood quietly in front of her, and we looked at each other, and without saying a word, her gaze expressed that I could make a photograph. It was an incredible magical moment-a gift to me, and to all those who view this magic moment of life and poetry.
Ferry to regla, Havana, 2015
It brings to mind something that a wonderful French photographer Edouard Boubat said to me before he passed many years ago-he leaned close to me and whispered in my year: "Peter, if you keep your head up, and your eyes and heart open, there is a gift waiting for you at every street corner". I have tried to follow this advice in my life, and it has brought great quality to my existence.
Prodanza Ballet Academy, Havana, 2014
The exhibition, entitled, "Momentos de la Condición Humana" covers a very wide spectrum of the life of the world, and of humanity, from moments of life at it's best, including love, affection, tenderness, poetry, grace and elegance-to moments revealing oppression, hardship, misfortune, cruelty, conflict, and war, and all in between.
Guanabo Beach, 2015
The museum has indicated to me that after research, I am the first American artist since the revolution to be offered a major exhibition at Cuba's most important museum. This is certainly one my life's most important honors, for which I feel very proud and grateful.
Centro Havana, 2015
Aside from the meaning of each word, grace, and spirit, it speaks to much that is both subtle and profound about the people of Cuba, of how they relate to the world, to time, to each other, to their families and friends, to love, to hope, to their sense of themselves, and of their people, culture, and country.
Regla, Havana, 2015
I have a deep love for the people of Cuba. Throughout a lifetime of world travel, rarely have I been to a place where I've witnessed so much grace, spirit, dignity, and wonderful humanity. My new book, Cuba-A Grace of Spirit, is a form of love letter and tribute to the people of Cuba. It is about heart and soul.
Malecon, Havana, 2015
I approach life with the feeling that, somehow, everyone I encounter, anywhere and everywhere, is in one way or another part of my family, the family of humanity. I was born in the United States but have spent more than half of my life living in Paris and have traveled worldwide to over ninety countries, with the interest of documenting the world of my time in all of its variety. Each time I have visited Cuba, the heartfelt expression of life I witness everywhere reminds me of what a beautiful family of men and women we are all a part of.
Centro Havana, 2013
I have many wonderful memories of being in Cuba. Among my favorite memories are the recollections of being on a salsa dance floor, and exchanging with smiles and eye contact, the passionate joy of being alive through the rhythmic movement of dance and music. I also cherish memories of sitting in a public communal Cuban taxi, a 1950's American car, full of Cuban's that previously didn't know each other, and riding through the streets of Havana with everyone talking, laughing and moving at once with salsa music blaring on the car radio.
Havana Vieja, 2015
Without a doubt there is an increased tempo of tourism that one can witness particularly in the center of Havana. The visual texture of daily life is much the same as before. One can now witness certainly an increase in small business entrepreneurship in the streets of Havana. My strongest hope is that change and the evolving history of this unique and amazing island and country will be as kind to the people of Cuba as they have always been to me. The people of Cuba have taught and demonstrated to me so many beautiful lessons of how life can be lived well.
Centro Havana, 2015
I will return to Havana, Cuba in early November of this year for the opening of my major exhibition, "Momentos de la Condición Humana." Among other things, I lead many one-week photography workshops around the world on street photography, in Cuba, Paris, New York, Venice, and elsewhere. I love publishing books of my life's photographs and that will certainly continue, and I feel as passionate and curious as ever to continue to walk the streets of our world each day of my life, with an eternal appreciation of the human story.
Centro Havana, 2015
Centro Havana, 2015
Story highlights
Photographer Peter Turnley has had a 40-year love affair with Cuba
His new book gives an intimate view of everyday Cuban life.
Next month he will show his work at Havana's Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes
Next month photographer Peter Turnley will become the first American to be given a major exhibition at Havana’s Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes since the Cuban Revolution, when his exhibition opens in the museum on November 13.
The exhibition, Momentos de la Condición Humana, will include 130 photographs from Indiana-born Turnley’s four decades of work in over 90 countries. The honor of exhibiting in Cuba’s most important art museum is the culmination of a 40-year love affair between the photographer and the Caribbean nation, which Turnley has visited more than 20 times in the last four years alone.
“This is certainly one of my life’s most important honors, for which I feel very proud and grateful,” says 60-year-old Turnley, who first traveled to the country in 1989, accompanying Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbatchev during a meeting with Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
“I have a deep love for the people of Cuba,” says Turnley. “Throughout a lifetime of world travel, rarely have I been to a place where I’ve witnessed so much grace, spirit, dignity and wonderful humanity.”
Photography has taken Turnley to the sites of conflicts and disasters including the first Gulf War, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, ground zero of the 9/11 terror attacks, and New Orleans during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
But Cuba keeps Turnley coming back – with the promise of joy rather than strife. To commemorate his enduring affection, Peter Turnley has published a new book, “Cuba: A Grace of Spirit,” which gives an intimate view of everyday Cuban life.