Since his first visit to Cuba in 2020, photographer Diego Vourakis knew that he needed to extend the impact of his experiences beyond the island. In a story where love, community, and family form the strongest of ties, he unveils “De Cara Al Sol,” his debut photo book—a collection of images and reflections on Cuba. The project originated from his desire to gain a deeper understanding of the culture, the island, and its communities.

Structured as a five-part book, “De Cara Al Sol” captures the optimistic pride of Cuban life. Vourakis depicts the people he encountered during a series of trips between February 2020 and April 2023. Published and designed by the creative studio AMILE as a linen-bound limited edition, “De Cara Al Sol” was launched in Los Angeles in October 2023. In collaboration with a Cuban foundation, 100% of the profits from the sales of each book will be used to purchase medicines, vitamins, and other essentials for families and their children.

In this interview, we connect with the US-based photographer to discuss the power of bringing these stories to life, the personal impact Cuba had on him, and the challenges faced while creating this book.

Read the full interview…

What inspired you to create “De Cara Al Sol”?
It started as curiosity, and after I returned home from my first visit in 2020, I realized that what I had experienced there was something I felt compelled to share. The love, sense of community, pride, and strong perseverance that the people of Cuba displayed had a profound impact on my life.

Not turning a blind eye to the situation they are facing and recognizing the sensitivity of the subject, I didn’t want this book to consist solely of images. I aimed to make it informative as well. It was through my experiences and storytelling that I could convey these realities, but in a way that would benefit the Cuban people as this is who we are doing it for.

How did your journey to understanding Cuban culture and communities begin?
It began as soon as I got into the taxi from the airport to town. Being able to speak the same language was a significant advantage, allowing us to connect on a deeper level. At the time, I was with a friend who had traveled to Cuba about 20 years prior. His curiosity about how Cuba had transformed over all those years, combined with my own fresh and eager desire to learn more, gave us different perspectives on how conversations would unfold.

Over time, the various visits allowed me to form endearing relationships with Cuban people, cultivating a sense of love and family. Through these relationships and the trust that developed, I felt it helped me understand the culture and gain insights directly from the people.

Could you share some of the most memorable encounters or experiences you had with the people in Cuba during your trips?
Something I haven’t talked much about is how my first journey to Baracoa began. It marked my second trip to Cuba in 2022, and my friend Dave and I were trying to figure out how to get from Havana to Baracoa. A friend we had made on the first day of our arrival in Havana helped us find the way to embark on this crazy journey. Essentially, it meant driving down the entire stretch of the island to the very bottom to the first city discovered in Cuba.

It was early morning on a Thursday, around 5:45 am, when the phone rang. Our driver was here. We walked downstairs to meet him and introduced ourselves; his name was Eddie. We had so many questions for Eddie, like how long this trip would take (everyone gave us different answers). Some said 13 hours, while others said 18 hours. We knew taking the bus would mean a 24-25 hour trip, so we did our own calculations. Eddie insisted he had made it in 13 hours before, but some things just didn’t add up in our minds. From that moment, we knew we were in for a wild ride.

Throughout the day, we encountered all kinds of wild moments. From intense conversations about life in Cuba and how the pandemic had impacted the island, to almost being hit by a horse from the side of the road that jumped as we were driving by—it nearly landed on us if we hadn’t swerved out of the way. We sang loudly to 80s music, Eddie doing this dance that we all started doing together when the music hit, to having guava pie for both lunch and dinner because there was no other way to get food for most of the journey.

We didn’t have a place to stay in Baracoa, so Eddie made some phone calls, and 5 minutes later, he had it all figured out. In Cuba, someone knows someone that knows someone. No matter where you are. 6pm came, and the sun was starting to set. We still had 40% to go, and we told Eddie we could stop and continue the next day. But Eddie was persistent; he wanted to get us to Baracoa that day! I was a bit nervous, to be honest, because we had been told that the last stretch of the ride was through ‘La Farola,’ a very scary road at night. This cliffside road didn’t have any lights; people drove fast, and the width of the road in some areas was big enough for only one car. However, his confidence put me at ease, and I was already prepared for whatever else was to come our way at this point. We had gone through so much together on this day that I felt comfortable to let go and surrender to trust. We all felt like we had known each other for a lot longer than just a day.

Midnight struck, and we finally made it to Baracoa! Eddie’s dad was there to greet us. His name was also Eddie! He happened to live nearby and had arranged a place for us to stay. He welcomed us with the biggest smile and warmth that I still vividly remember. We had some small late-night conversations, and from that day on, Papa Eddie and us became good friends, developing a deeper friendship in the following days and until this day, we are still in contact.

In the end, this journey became more than just about reaching a destination—it transformed into a whirlwind of experiences and heartfelt conversations; an adventure that left a lasting mark in our hearts and souls, forever to be cherished.

“De Cara Al Sol” is described as a five-part book. Could you elaborate on the structure of the book, and how it helps convey the story you want to tell?
The book is divided into five parts because it takes you to the cities I felt most connected to. It also represents a range encompassing very significant cities. Viñales stands as the producer of all tobacco in Cuba, a critical component of Cuban heritage. On the other end of the island, Baracoa holds the distinction of being the oldest colonial city and was the first city discovered on the island. While all the cities hold great importance, I felt a specific connection to the 5 I covered in the book.

Your photobook aims to capture the optimistic pride of Cuban life. Can you share some specific moments that best exemplify this theme?
One evening in Baracoa, I was walking along the bay and saw a man playing a soothing melody on the trumpet while facing the ocean’s water. I observed for a few minutes and began to take a couple photographs of him. We exchanged smiles and a brief greeting. The following evening, I returned to the same bay and found some of the families and kids I had met in the days prior. I asked about the trumpet man, and one of the kids told me he was their good friend, Jose. The kid proudly said, ‘I want you to meet him, let me take you to his house.’ I told him that it was okay and that I didn’t want to impose. However, he insisted, so he and his friends led me to Jose’s house.

As we approached the front door, Jose greeted me with a big smile and invited us in. I could feel his genuine warmth and affection. He began by showing me around his house and said “I don’t have much, but I have enough.” For the next three hours, we talked about his life in Cuba, specifically in Baracoa. Despite living alone, he mentioned how proud he was of his kids who had pursued their careers in a bigger city. He also spoke of the peace and happiness he found in this city. I could see his eyes light up as he discussed his community—the one he had built. He mentioned he had lived in various parts of the island, but he would always return to Baracoa because he had found something special there. Whether it was playing the trumpet with his band or during the evening at the beach, which he called his backyard, or gathering all the kids from the neighbourhood and buying bread and juice from his earnings to give the kids a place to gather, laugh, learn new dances, and keep his community close, his focus was on finding the meaning of happiness. He had found something magical and I was lucky to experience a glimpse of this. His pride and spirit would shine through his eyes and words.

It’s mentioned that your book is affiliated with The Cuba Foundation and Give2Cuba, with profits going toward essential supplies for families and children. What motivated you to support this cause?
From the very beginning, I wanted to utilize the resources I had to support Cuba,
including the profits from this project. I knew I couldn’t accomplish this alone; it was
something new for me, and I needed the guidance and support of the right organization
to navigate this journey with.

My goal was to offer direct assistance. I would collect lists of needed medicines from families I had met to gather direct information about their medical necessities. I not only wanted to donate the profits from this project but also be physically present when it happened, as I am the only one who knows how to reach some of these families that live in more secluded areas. The start of this aid project focuses on Baracoa, a city quite distant down the island. I often heard stories about how obtaining simple items like ibuprofen or other inflammatory medicines was a significant challenge. And if available, they were often prohibitively expensive, forcing families to choose between basic necessities like food or clothes or relieving a headache. These stories stayed imprinted in my mind, and I could sense the urgency. I had made a promise to myself—I would
return and contribute in any way I could.

And how do you hope your work will make a difference?
I hope this book plants the seed of interest and curiosity in people to learn more about Cuba and perhaps inspires them to visit the island themselves. Cuba was something I felt connected to, and I took it upon myself to support in any way I could. My goal is that this project could inspire other artists to think about what they feel connected to, and use their gift to raise more conversations and give knowledge about different cultures.

With the internet and social media, community doesn’t have to be limited to your city; we can connect with other people from around the world to bring all of us closer together. I hope it can open up a conversation about the realities Cuba faces

As an artist who immigrated to the United States from Peru, how do you think your multicultural background influenced your perspective and approach to capturing Cuban culture in your work?
The two countries are so different, yet they share many similarities. I see a lot of their essence relating to each other in conversations and their way of thinking. As soon as I arrived, it felt natural and familiar. It made it easy to feel at home, to be honest. Growing up in Peru as a child, we faced the needs and struggles of a developing country. I saw it, I experienced it. Thinking about it in my adult life, I believe that gave me an empathetic sensibility to understand things a bit differently. My childhood in Peru had a significant influence on how I related to many of the subjects I photograph, especially the youth of Cuba.

What challenges did you face in creating this photobook?
One of the biggest challenges for me was finding an appropriate way to communicate about Cuba without delving into its politics while doing justice in providing information about its realities. Another challenge I encountered was expressing the depth of my feelings in writing. I wanted people to experience, through this book, the emotions I felt while I was in Cuba.

Looking beyond this project, what are your future aspirations and plans as an artist, and how do you envision your work evolving in the years to come?
I have a few other projects in mind for the following years. My goal is to maintain a strong balance between fashion and philanthropic projects. ‘De cara al sol’ is just the beginning, a catalyst for a more extensive plan. We aim to utilize our resources to spotlight other cultures and initiate conversations.

We published this book under our new creative studio, AMILE, founded alongside Juan Duque and Nima Habibzadeh. One of our objectives is to create more books of this nature and support other artists in doing the same. Given my background and familial experiences, I feel a deep connection to Cuba. I’m curious to see what other artists are drawn to and how we can utilize our gifts to bring more people and cultures closer together

AMILE presents De cara al sol by Diego Vourakis

Saturday 2nd December open hours 11am-4pm
book signing from 12-3pm

SIZED Studio
526 N Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90004, United States

All profits from the sales of the book, prints, and collaboration pieces will be donated to Give2Cuba and The Cuba Foundation