Artist
Alfredo Ramos Fernández(Cuban, born 1964)Cuban, born 1964
Artist
Katarzyna Badach(Polish-German, born 1975)Polish-German, born 1975
CultureCuban
Titles
- Surfing Buena Vista
Date2012
MediumSingle-channel video, sound
Dimensions3 minutes, 30 seconds
Credit LineThe Madeleine P. Plonsker Collection, museum purchase funded by the Caroline Wiess Law Accessions Endowment Fund
Object number2022.626
Current Location
The Nancy and Rich Kinder Building
Gallery 208
Exposé
Explore Further
Department
PhotographyObject Type
In Havana’s Buena Vista neighborhood, teenagers face limited options to combat boredom. They eagerly anticipate rainy days for “surfing,” a favorite pastime of hanging off vehicles circulating the avenues, despite it being illegal and dangerous. All that’s required is a torrential downpour and a pair of shoes from which they can tear off the soles. Mostly filmed from a bicycle so as not to intrude on the subjects, the video depicts a scene contrasting with the typical image of surfing—blue skies, fair skin, and wealth.
ProvenanceThe artist, Havana, Cuba; purchased by Madeleine P. Plonsker, Glencoe, Illinois, 2016; purchased by MFAH, 2022.
Cataloguing data may change with further research.
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William Wegman
1970
Single-channel digital video, transferred from Sony CV 1/2-inch video tape, black-and-white, sound
2019.402.14
William Wegman
1970
Single-channel digital video, transferred from Sony CV 1/2-inch video tape, black-and-white, sound
2019.402.13