CIGARS FOR US
Photos | CUBA | 2010

This project, where cigars and letters are sealed in plastic bottles and sent adrift from Cuba’s northern coastline, carries profound symbolism. The bottles trace the same waters that many Cubans risk their lives crossing in makeshift rafts or car tires to reach Florida. By reversing this trajectory, the project flips the narrative—transforming a perilous journey of escape into an unexpected gesture of connection.

The inclusion of Cuba’s iconic cigars, forbidden in the U.S. for decades, adds another layer of subversion. These bottles, rather than carrying desperation, carry a greeting, turning contraband into a gift for the “lucky” finders on American shores. It’s a playful yet poignant commentary on borders, embargoes, and the yearning for connection across political divides. The project speaks to the tension between exile and home, restriction and freedom.