L e a n d r o E r l i c h / J u d i W e r t h e i n
"T U R I S M O"
A r t i s t s S p e c i a l E d i t i o n
Unique Polaroid interleaved with Hardcover Publication
Text by the artists, c. 2000. 64 pp., 29 color plates
7.25 x 5.25 in. ISBN- 1-878607-99-5
$ 100. plus applicable tax
Each of the polaroids offered here were taken during a participatory project for the VII Bienal de la Habana during the first three weeks of November, 2000 in Cuba. For each of the subjects, two polaroids were taken, one to be given for free to the people in the photograph, and the second to be retained by the artists.
The artists created a photographic setting of an unreachable Austrian Alps landscape which they transported from their Brooklyn studios to Cuba where it was installed at “La Cabaña”, a historical fortress dating back to the colonial period and which 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 the Che Guevara. The alpine backdrop was set up with artificial snow, skis, sleds and all other accompanying decorative items that helped create the magical illusion. Cubans residents were then invited to come and take their picture in front of the backdrop and thus completing the work of art.