Exhibition shows Cuba through the lens

The photo Tango El Prado is part of the collection Soul and Shadows by photographer Bugani.

His photo collection Soul y Sombras - Soul and Shadows is now on display in Hà Nội. It is the culmination of his project to capture the soul of Cuba in photographs for the last five years.

He has been chosen by Leica, a camera brand from Germany, as its International Leica Ambassador for the new Leica M10 camera. Accordingly, Leica Việt Nam is hosting the exhibition to feature his art and bring Vietnamese audiences a glimpse of life in Cuba.

“The title of the series may sound bleak, but his pictures are anything but – strong colours, bright lighting and, of course, the resulting deep shadows,” said Nguyễn Gia Phong, director of the Leica Việt Nam.

“The Italian photographer’s pictures are as rich in contrast as the Cuban soul he went searching for.”

Photographer Bugani has never doubted that Cuba has a lot more to offer than what you see in travel brochures or hear on the news. Looking for more than just the superficial image, Bugani first travelled to the Caribbean island in 2003. He was immediately captivated by the country, its wildlife, its cities and, above all, its people. He made Havana his second home and hung out with the locals.

“The real treasures of Cuba are the people themselves and their way of life,” Bugani said.

With the aim of capturing their diversity, Bugani created a colourful series of complex pictures with a strong alternation and interaction of bright light and deep shadows.

Some of his protagonists are accompanied by their shadows, so that they step onto Bugani’s stage twice, while others are just represented with a portrait.

His compositions always show the interplay of light and shadow. With the strong colours of the house walls, they create a multi-layered overall image – as diverse as Cuban society itself.

Born in Bologna in 1974, Bugani became interested in photography as a child. About 20 years ago, he turned his hobby into his profession and has been running Fotostudio Image in Bologna since 1999. He has won many international photo awards.

Bugani has been a freelance professional photographer, working with associations and NGOs. He actively collaborates with MSF (Medecins Sans Frontier) and Amnesty International, for which he has participated in several projects on human rights, illegal immigration and the right to housing.

He has several ongoing photographic projects in Cuba, Kenya, Indonesia, Turkey and Georgia. He teaches photography in his private photographic school in Bologna, as well as in seminars and workshops.

He also hosted a photo training course in Hà Nội last October.

The exhibition Soul and Shadows will run until February 15 at the Leica Boutique, 14 Tràng Tiền Street, Hà Nội.