on the 12th of May 2007 from 2 p.m. till 4 p.m.
Torch Gallery, Amsterdam, is pleased to invite you Saturday the 12th of May from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. to the book presentation and signing session of Viva Cuba, the latest photography book by Dutch photographer Eric van den Elsen renown among other artistic achievements for his successful publication, Heldinnen, a series of photographs of Dutch celebrities with text by Ronald Giphart. On the occasion of the book-signing session, the gallery will exhibit a selection of photographs from Viva Cuba.
Photographer Eric van den Elsen (1961) is just as passionate about Cuba as are his fellows of the salsa band Trio Los Dos. For more than ten years now, together, they have been traveling back and forth to the island, learning the Son (the traditional Cuban music) and making friends among its most talented musicians. At last, their dream has come true to share with the world their fascination for Cuba –its people, culture and music. Resulting from this long-lasting involvement, Viva Cuba, a multimedia project including a full-color book with photographs by Eric van den Elsen and a CD-Rom presenting Trio Los Dos' latest album Somos Hermanos, has just been released. By way of combining images, texts and music, this project addresses all our senses in an attempt at recreating the magic of Cuba.
Whereas Fulco van Deventer, co-founder of Trio Los Dos, wrote the lyrics of the new album of Trio Los Dos in the tradition of the Cuban Son, Eric van den Elsen, not only performed as a musician side by side the other members of the band and their special Cuban guests but also brought back a hand-full of photographs reflecting the life conditions on the island. Viva Cuba presents a selection of some 120 photographs, mostly in color. Through the poetic reflections of his lens, Cuba always appears joyful and desiring beyond hardship and struggle; Van den Elsen allows us to feel close to the farther reality of Cuba and profoundly endears us to it. Just as the title of Trio Los Dos' latest album –provided together with the book— Somos Hermanos foreshadows: No matter where we come from, we are all brothers and sisters.
Viva Cuba is a hardcover full-color book presenting 120 photographs by Eric van den Elsen, texts by Fulco van Deventer and Trio Los Dos's latest album, Somos Hermanos.
The book is entirely both in Dutch and Spanish. Viva Cuba is published by Podium, Amsterdam [ISBN 978 90 5759 277 5]. In exclusivity, on the 12th of May at Torch Gallery during the signing session (from 2 p.m. till 4 p.m.), Viva Cuba will be available at the very special price of 45, - Euros.
Viva Cuba is also an exhibition at the Melkweg Galerie to be seen from the 10th of May till the 3rd of June 2007.