The Fort Worth Press - 'You need to be happy': graffiti encourages Cuban self-reflection

USD -
AED 3.673035
AFN 71.323752
ALL 89.53094
AMD 391.220403
ANG 1.790208
AOA 916.000367
ARS 1073.553904
AUD 1.656644
AWG 1.8
AZN 1.70397
BAM 1.766685
BBD 2.011533
BDT 121.061023
BGN 1.79063
BHD 0.376957
BIF 2961.474188
BMD 1
BND 1.332099
BOB 6.885493
BRL 5.827404
BSD 0.996193
BTN 84.992526
BWP 13.874477
BYN 3.260694
BYR 19600
BZD 2.001147
CAD 1.421295
CDF 2873.000362
CHF 0.861245
CLF 0.025114
CLP 963.730396
CNY 7.28155
CNH 7.28834
COP 4210.53
CRC 503.907996
CUC 1
CUP 26.5
CVE 99.605696
CZK 23.03904
DJF 177.720393
DKK 6.81224
DOP 62.907224
DZD 133.59404
EGP 50.591504
ERN 15
ETB 131.300523
EUR 0.912925
FJD 2.314904
FKP 0.762682
GBP 0.774585
GEL 2.750391
GGP 0.762682
GHS 15.48644
GIP 0.762682
GMD 72.139607
GNF 8645.949925
GTQ 7.693185
GYD 209.183137
HKD 7.774975
HNL 25.577483
HRK 6.878904
HTG 130.793752
HUF 364.387873
IDR 16744.473258
ILS 3.746145
IMP 0.762682
INR 85.338154
IQD 1306.506853
IRR 42336.988543
ISK 130.567142
JEP 0.762682
JMD 157.094395
JOD 0.70904
JPY 147.21804
KES 129.238254
KGS 86.692362
KHR 3971.595158
KMF 445.147581
KPW 899.928114
KRW 1451.374019
KWD 0.307615
KYD 0.83156
KZT 501.917416
LAK 21606.921497
LBP 89544.522786
LKR 295.184792
LRD 199.781411
LSL 18.739948
LTL 2.95274
LVL 0.60489
LYD 4.82245
MAD 9.516652
MDL 17.902827
MGA 4631.875059
MKD 56.260592
MMK 2099.545327
MNT 3504.730669
MOP 8.010542
MRU 39.660628
MUR 45.370989
MVR 15.441096
MWK 1732.00408
MXN 20.438104
MYR 4.442621
MZN 63.8826
NAD 18.739948
NGN 1536.123004
NIO 36.754903
NOK 10.75399
NPR 136.60505
NZD 1.788861
OMR 0.384952
PAB 1
PEN 3.666345
PGK 4.106218
PHP 57.053122
PKR 279.986588
PLN 3.82525
PYG 7937.001208
QAR 3.640374
RON 4.504564
RSD 106.000243
RUB 84.082892
RWF 1417.183198
SAR 3.750373
SBD 8.499278
SCR 14.328056
SDG 600.377285
SEK 10.016855
SGD 1.334705
SHP 0.785843
SLE 22.750371
SLL 20969.501083
SOS 569.677964
SRD 36.564761
STD 20697.981008
SVC 8.75037
SYP 13001.416834
SZL 18.739948
THB 34.107305
TJS 10.883523
TMT 3.497769
TND 3.055277
TOP 2.408314
TRY 37.985795
TTD 6.752072
TWD 33.07735
TZS 2654.318194
UAH 41.285264
UGX 3652.036928
UYU 42.304314
UZS 12908.018961
VES 70.043118
VND 25805.374257
VUV 123.606268
WST 2.823884
XAF 593.530108
XAG 0.033825
XAU 0.000331
XCD 2.707263
XDR 0.753961
XOF 593.530108
XPF 107.975038
YER 245.884458
ZAR 19.08851
ZMK 9001.203587
ZMW 27.959236
ZWL 321.999592
  • RBGPF

    1.0200

    69.02

    +1.48%

  • RYCEF

    -1.5500

    8.25

    -18.79%

  • CMSC

    0.0300

    22.29

    +0.13%

  • SCS

    -0.0600

    10.68

    -0.56%

  • NGG

    -3.4600

    65.93

    -5.25%

  • RELX

    -3.2800

    48.16

    -6.81%

  • GSK

    -2.4800

    36.53

    -6.79%

  • RIO

    -3.7600

    54.67

    -6.88%

  • VOD

    -0.8700

    8.5

    -10.24%

  • AZN

    -5.4600

    68.46

    -7.98%

  • BCC

    0.8100

    95.44

    +0.85%

  • BCE

    0.0500

    22.71

    +0.22%

  • JRI

    -0.8600

    11.96

    -7.19%

  • BTI

    -2.0600

    39.86

    -5.17%

  • CMSD

    0.1600

    22.83

    +0.7%

  • BP

    -2.9600

    28.38

    -10.43%

'You need to be happy': graffiti encourages Cuban self-reflection
'You need to be happy': graffiti encourages Cuban self-reflection / Photo: © AFP

'You need to be happy': graffiti encourages Cuban self-reflection

Graffiti on walls around Havana telling Cubans "you need to be happy" has encouraged introspection and inspiration in a country where censorship has forced many street artists to emigrate or abandon their work.

Text size:

The simple but striking message that began appearing more than a year ago is the creation of "Mr. Sad," a 27-year-old sociologist who, under the cover of anonymity, pushes the limits of rebellion on the communist-run island.

"My intention is just to create a mirror so that people have the opportunity to take a moment to see what's inside them," he told AFP.

The artist said he was inspired by the tradition of visual propaganda that Cuba has cultivated in the decades since the revolution that brought the late Fidel Castro to power in 1959.

Revolutionary slogans that have adorned public space on the island of 10 million inhabitants for years, such as "Homeland or death, we will win," have gradually lost their connection with the Cuban identity, he said.

In the 1960s, "Cuba became the standard bearer of counterculture," he said in front of his graffiti inside the ruins of what was once an elegant apartment block with a sea view.

"Society has evolved. It no longer identifies with what happens in public spaces," he said.

He decided to turn his message into an "order but a kind one" because, he believes, Cubans are so used to orders "that only an order can attract attention."

The phrase has been spray-painted or scribbled in pen on walls, road signs and disused shop windows, as well appearing on stickers and T-shirts.

- 'Despite the problems' -

Graffiti emerged in Cuba in the early 2000s as a response to the needs of a changing society, Mr. Sad said.

However, some of its creators have faced hostility and surveillance from the authorities, because graffiti is above all a form of rebellion, he added.

One artist who signs his graffiti featuring masked characters observing society from street walls "2+2=5" has gone into exile.

Another, Yulier P., remains on the island but no longer paints.

Both were previously arrested and said they were forced to paint over their murals, although some are still visible in the capital.

Even so, Mr. Sad prefers to work during the day, choosing busy places like bus stations.

He said people had told him on social media that his words helped them to make important decisions, including fleeing domestic violence, addressing gender identity issues or even deciding against suicide.

Independent filmmakers Lilian Moncada, 22, and Erika Santana, 23, were also inspired by the slogan, which they used for the name of their short film.

Santana plays the role of a woman "fighting her own demons" who needed to hear Mr. Sad's message, said the actress, who has the phrase tattooed on her forearm.

Cubans "have the right to be happy, to look inward and move forward, despite the problems" shaking the island, which is mired in its worst economic crisis in three decades, Moncada said.

L.Rodriguez--TFWP