MIAMI, United States. – Young Cuban photographer Ruber Osoria inaugurated a personal exhibition entitled “Traces of the Cuban Diaspora in Chile” at the municipal library of Concepción, Chile, on August 17.
The exhibition, which is part of the resilience scholarship for Cuban emigrant artists awarded by Artist at Risk Connection (ARC)is part of Biofoto 2024, the most important photography fair in the Biobío region. The exhibition will tour several Chilean cities until September 24.
Osoria explained to Cuba Diary Her work seeks to go beyond the statistics that often dominate the discourse on migration. “Photography is a powerful medium to capture the essence of life, to immortalize moments and to tell stories that might otherwise be forgotten,” she said. “In this photographic project I invite people to look beyond the news headlines about migration. I focus on the people, their dreams, struggles and triumphs,” she added.
The photographic series presented by the young man highlights the humanity behind the Cuban migrants who have arrived in Chile in search of a better future. “They are not just migrants; they are human beings with hopes and aspirations. They are fathers and mothers who long for a brighter future for their children, young people who seek opportunities and grandparents who carry with them the memory of their land,” reflected the photographer, who has dedicated this work to making visible a community that, according to him, is “vibrant, resilient and silent.”
Osoria, who left Cuba in 2018, credits her own experience as a migrant as the spark that ignited the creation of this project. “During this process, I met other Cubans who shared their own stories of hope, sacrifice and adaptation. I wanted to capture those experiences in images,” she said.
For the young photographer, “Traces of the Cuban Diaspora in Chile” is not just a collection of images, but “a snapshot of humanity, a look at the dreams and struggles of those who crossed borders in search of a better future.”
The project also has the support of prominent professionals in the fields of photography and journalism. Among them, Fernando Melo, whom Osoria considers his mentor. “He is not only an outstanding photographer, but also a passionate defender of freedom of artistic expression. He guided me, inspired me and taught me to look beyond the surface,” said Osoria. Melo, who is also the editor of the photobook that accompanies the exhibition, made sure that each image was a powerful testimony to the stories of the Cuban diaspora.
