“As a 25-year-old from Russia coming to Cuba, I wanted to see beyond Cuba’s Soviet past; I was eager to discover and capture change — specifically, the new generation of young people, so many of whom are remarkably promising, courageous, and bold.

Before my trip to Havana, I had connected with two local girls, Cami and Bia, through the Couchsurfing platform. I had a feeling we had a lot in common, and it turned out my instincts did not let me down as we hit it off straightaway. They helped me identify diverse youth communities in Havana and find their representatives: together, we reached out to people on social media, sought participants through their friends and friends of friends, and roamed the streets in search of vibrant and stylish youngsters throughout the town. I captured gamers, skaters, rockers, fashion enthusiasts, a tattoo community, nature lovers, rappers, and trova musicians –– and created a series of nine group portraits against various backdrops, ranging from abandoned colonial houses to the remnants of Soviet buildings.

Despite the country’s economic and political situation, the young manage to find ways to express themselves and pursue their passions. Gamers compete at night to avoid Internet disruptions. Skaters get skateboards through donations and find time to practice between their work shifts. Cosplayers recycle fabrics and use second-hand clothes to make costumes for small but increasingly popular cosplay events. Having friends and relatives abroad also helps –– whether it comes to getting clothes, musical instruments, tattoo supplies, or distributing music on streaming platforms.”