New Magazine Captures Cuba’s Enduring Love for Photography

Speaking at the presentation of the inaugural issue of Lente Cubano, held at Havana’s National Museum of Fine Arts, Larramendi emphasized the magazine’s mission: “This publication captures the passion and deep affection Cubans feel for photography. We aim to keep it self-financed to ensure its continuity, and we plan to release a new issue every six months, each covering a wide range of topics,” he told Radio Enciclopedia.

Lente Cubano picks up where Fotografía Cubana left off two decades ago — a magazine that, despite being warmly received, never advanced beyond its debut issue. In its absence, Cuba had been lacking a dedicated platform to celebrate the nation’s photographic artistry.

“It’s a photography magazine, of course, but it also seeks to promote the latest happenings and developments across the Cuban photography scene,” explained deputy editor Claudia Arcos Ponce during the launch event. “It’s not just about showcasing the works of emerging or established artists, but also about highlighting promotional spaces created by institutions and projects, as well as the invaluable photographic collections held in both public institutions and private hands. In essence, it offers a comprehensive panorama of Cuban photography.”

She added, “We’ll feature a wide variety of photographic styles — not only highly conceptual, artistic photography, but also photojournalism, music photography, sports photography, and more. There’s space for every photographic expression in Cuba, and I believe that’s one of the magazine’s greatest strengths.”

The first issue opens with an article by Dr. Rafael Acosta de Arriba, paying tribute to the legendary photographer Raúl Corrales (1925–2006), who was commemorated earlier this year, on January 29, marking the centennial of his birth. Other contributions explore the impact of the Noviembre Fotográfico festival, organized by the Fototeca de Cuba, its connections with the 15th Havana Biennial, and the intriguing convergence of photography and artificial intelligence.

Readers can download the magazine from the ArteCubano Ediciones website, the publishing house behind the project, alongside the National Council for the Visual Arts and its president, Daneisy García Roque, who also serves as the magazine’s general director.

Executive editor Alain Cabrera noted that the editorial team is also actively involved as contributors: “We’re not just editors; we’re also specialists in photography, research, and criticism, so you’ll find some of our own articles featured as well.”

Claudia Arcos further highlighted the magazine’s visual focus: “We always prioritize brevity in the texts because we need to give plenty of space to images. After all, this is a photography magazine, and the images should take center stage, with the text playing a supporting role.”

In its opening editorial, Lente Cubano positions itself as a vital platform for artists, critics, curators, educators, and technicians alike — a space to share their work, discuss technological advances, promote exhibitions and competitions, and, above all, keep a finger on the pulse of photographic art in Cuba.