Aikú, Cuba is a photographic series created during the XXXII Festival del Caribe in Santiago de Cuba. The project captures a bembé—a ritual celebration rooted in Yoruba tradition that fuses music, dance, and spiritual invocation. Performed by a folkloric ensemble from Pinar del Río, each dancer embodies an Orisha deity through distinct colors, movements, and ceremonial attire.
This Campfire session begins with a visual presentation of selected photographs and cultural context, followed by an open dialogue exploring the symbolic language of sacred performance. Participants will reflect on how color, costume, and movement communicate ancestral knowledge and religious identity.
Viviana Torres-Mestey is a Puerto Rican interdisciplinary artist, photographer, and researcher. Her work bridges visual literacy, design, and cultural memory. This project expands upon her doctoral research into the visual codes of Afro-Caribbean spirituality and the role of photography in documenting sacred traditions.
