The North of Russia” Exhibited in Holguín

By Leandro Estupiñán

In such cold days, the North of Russia should be even colder. Now, this area is at a hand’s reach thanks to the photographic exhibition The North of Russia, opened last Saturday at the Electa Arenal Salon of the Holguín Art Center.

Russian photographer Guennadiy Smirnov shows 20 images that have been already exposed in Havana, Ciego de Ávila y Santiago de Cuba according to Irina Samsonova, a coordinator here for the Community of Russians in Holguín. This exposition intends to arouse the interest for that culture in Cuba.

This proposal comes some days before the holding of the International Book Fair in Holguín devoted to Russia. The exhibit will open till next march 2nd.

Nostalgia Biographer

By Jorge Luis Sánchez Grass.

Words written for the "Nostalgia Memories" Exhibit catalogue.

Photojournalist Amauris Betancourt has become in a natural way, thanks to deliberate and unconditioned reasons, the Nostalgia biographer (Arañando la Nostalgia Music Festival). His snapshots have accompanied each Festival celebration.

The artist's accusing eye has undressed our purposes. He has been more than once a hidden eyewitness to many concerts and February alibis to enjoy ourselves. The photoreporter has turned out to be a main character at different planes. Sometimes very close to first planes; sometimes just taking part, but always an observer or a witness, with low or high profile, accepting in each moment responsibility and risk. That gives this exhibit a testimonial and ethical value sorting out his pieces as tangible documents of an epoch reaching now five years.

Diversity is concise and exhaustive, and embraces a wide scope. The images have come out of different technical supports, and so has quality. However, the artist's quality breathes above all apparatus. Actually, nothing seems more lucid that accepting the sincere and heterogeneous character that settles down the interrogation. Because each photo accounts for it: an interrogation turned into an answer where the author’s iconographic eloquence stands out.

Let us thank the truth’s unbreaking possibility to emerge from a deep genuine call. Amauris Betancourt adds up to it: a reality's vital segment, defining and strengthening the most beautiful and humble language, the enjoyable act to change it on the way to perfection.