R O S E M A R I E C R O M W E L L | El Libro Supremo De La Suerte
El Libro Supremo de la Suerte, published by TIS in 2018, gathers photographs I made in Havana over a span of seven years. The title translates as “The Supreme Book of Luck” and refers to photocopied booklets used to navigate the covert lottery in Havana. My friend Milagro refers to these booklets, or charadas, to match everyday objects they see to numbers they play. I found parallels between this intentional look at everyday things to the way I make images. A turtle on the sidewalk, a can of red paint — these simple moments became monumental when I photographed them.
I came of age in Havana, not only as a person, but also an artist. This work is an homage to my experience of a specific geography, honoring the symbols and occurrences that shaped my understanding of a place and a time in my life. By immersing myself in local culture, I documented my search for intimacy and spirituality, while navigating the politics of my presence in Cuba as a photographer and outsider.
