Surviving the Impossible

There’s just one place to live – the impossible.
       – Reinaldo Arenas

Surviving the Impossible is a photography project amplifying the voices of everyday Cubans navigating the humanitarian and economic collapse of their country. It challenges stereotypes of Cuba, focusing on the lives of those who have shared their most vulnerable moments.

Cuba IS the impossible, as Reinaldo Arenas wrote. Nearly 90% of Cubans live in extreme poverty, according to the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights. By September 2024, over a million people lacked running water, and most endured daily blackouts. Food, fuel, and medicine shortages are widespread, censorship is rampant, and over a million fled the island between 2022 and 2023: the largest migration in Cuban history.

This project explores themes like migration, poverty, and human rights, shedding light on Cuba’s complexities. Abandoned by their government and the international community, Cubans survive through resilience, mutual aid, and support from abroad.

Cuba is a land of fractured families and unfulfilled dreams. Yet, it is also a place of resilience and survival in the face of the impossible. Surviving the Impossible tells the story of a people who refuse to give up.

Sandra Hernandez

Sandra Hernández is a photographer and a Fujifilm Ambassador based in Mexico. Ten years ago, she decided to leave her career as an architect to pursue her dream of becoming a photographer. Her work focuses on documenting everyday stories that often go unnoticed, exploring the universality of the human experience.

She is a freelance photographer with Reuters, and her images have been featured in national and international publications. She has participated in over fifty solo and group exhibitions across four continents and has earned awards in prestigious global photography competitions.

Sandra is a member of Women Photograph, a pro member of The Raw Society, and an alum of The Eddie Adams Workshop. Her passion for photography has driven her to achieve milestones such as creating Antología de Fotografía de Calle Mexicana, the first book dedicated to street photography in Mexico, and founding Observadores Urbanos, a platform that promotes Latin American street photography.