Henry Bortman
Havana Walls

Havana Walls

In December 2024 I traveled to Havana, Cuba, to do photography.

Havana is an architectural wonderland. Many of its architectural treasures, however, are in disrepair, with paint peeling and, in some cases, walls literally crumbling. Due to the decades-long U.S. embargo on trade with Cuba, the Cuban people face dire shortages of food, fuel, electricity and basic medical supplies. Building supplies and paint are also difficult to come by.

I was drawn to photographing one after another of Havana’s deteriorating buildings. To me, their patinas stood as a metaphor for the resilience of the Cuban people, of beauty enduring in the face of grinding hardship. I offer these images as a form of solidarity with Cuba’s resistance to U.S. aggression.