RENÉ PEÑA
HAVANA, 1957
With my photos I don’t pretend to explain anything about myself. They are not self-portraits. I use my body as a support for my lucubrations about society.
I am not interested in individuals in particular. Nobody should think they are important enough to be the center of something. Such attitudes can create certain kinds of monsters. I don’t want to settle my accounts with individuals, but with society.
In my photos I try to avoid dramatic gestures, and sentimentality, that would encourage any kind of personal relationship with the viewer.
The central theme of my photographic series is the relationship established between individuals and institutions (family, education, political parties, religion…). I also pay attention to the contradiction that is created when we try to preserve our individuality at the same time that we have to deal with our condition of social entities.
I consider photography a powerful tool, sometimes in favor of just causes, sometimes of lies, and almost always as a provider of nostalgia.