Havana Syndrome Installation at the National Museum of Fine Arts

The National Museum of Fine Arts in Havana, within its Cuban Art Building, will inaugurate Havana Syndrome, a sound installation born from the collaboration between Cuban artist Wilfredo Prieto and Mexican artist Gabriel Orozco. The opening is set for this Friday, December 13, as part of the 15th Havana Biennial.

The installation comprises 32 audio tracks, featuring an array of sounds randomly captured across Havana throughout 2022, according to the museum’s Press Department.

The title references the so-called “syndrome” linked to alleged sonic attacks on U.S. Embassy personnel in Cuba in 2017. These claims have been used by successive U.S. administrations as a pretext to hinder diplomatic relations between Washington and Havana.

Through this politically charged context, the artwork aims to create a poetic experience—a sonic landscape drawn from everyday life. It brings to light elements of the city’s routine that might otherwise go unnoticed amidst the hustle of daily life. At its core, the piece is a contemplative exercise, reflecting the soundtrack of Havana’s reality while highlighting how the international narrative surrounding the syndrome can be overshadowed by the beauty of ordinary urban existence.

The installation employs a system of 20 to 30 small white speakers, which will play the final audio track on a loop. This understated setup mirrors the subtle, everyday essence of the artwork itself.

Translated by Luis E. Amador Dominguez