An intimate portrait of a giant

“He is not on the platform, but he is very close to us, sharing the necessary values to face the challenges of now and tomorrow,” stated Minister of Culture Abel Prieto on inaugurating the photographic exhibition Fidel: An Intimate Portrait in Havana’s Casa del Alba Cultural this August 1st.

On the upper floor of the institution, Alex Castro presented just over a dozen images captured through his lens, which depict significant moments of meetings over the last decade between the leader of the Cuban Revolution and political and cultural personalities.

The exhibition offers visitors an insight into the intimate surroundings of a statesman who never ceased to exercise the ethical and intellectual authority that emanated from his experience and personal example.

Experienced in the profession of photojournalism and the construction of artistic images, Alex Castro combined both skills, with a particular sensitivity and sense of duty, to produce visual testimonies of a remarkable historic and human impact.

Chávez, the Bolivarian leader and best friend; García Márquez and his wife Mercedes; Frei Betto; Lula; Dilma; Cristina and Evo; are all captured in dialogue with Fidel regarding common ideas and dreams.

Other shots demonstrate the respect of religious leaders toward a man who put his best efforts at the service of justice, truth, and the salvation of humanity.

In portrait after portrait, one can perceive the humanist vocation of a leader who believed that it is possible and essential to struggle without rest for the transformation of our reality.

Alex Castro thanked those who collaborated in the organization of the exhibition, and expressed his intention to present the vitality of his father, offering enduring inspiration.

On presenting the exhibition, Teresa Domínguez, acting president of the National Council of Visual Arts, stressed that the exhibition represents a tribute to the Comandante by cultural institutions and the country’s artistic movement, on the occasion of the 91st anniversary of his birth. (Taken from en.granma.cu)