Turismo LA Habana, Cuba

For Turismo, artists Leandro Erlich and Judi Werthein created a photographic setting of an unreachable Austrian Alps landscape, which they transported from their Brooklyn studios to Cuba, installing it in La Cabana, a historic fortress dating back to the colonial period that in later times was used for other purposes, such as the residence of Fulgencio Batista, a jail, and, after the 1959 revolution, the headquarters of the Comandancia, led by Che Guevara. The alpine backdrop was set up with artificial snow, skis, sleds, and other accompanying decorative items to help create a magical illusion and fantasized imaginary situation for Cuban residents, who were invited to come, pose, and have their picture taken in front of the backdrop. Turismo was undertaken for the seventh Bienal de la Habana in Cuba.Turismo LA Habana, Cuba, was published 2003 under ISBN 9781878607997 and ISBN 1878607995.