黑料不打烊

Elliot & Erick Jim茅nez鈥檚 debut solo exhibition, Entre Dos Mundos, which translates to 鈥淏etween Two Worlds鈥�, visualizes through staged photographs the personification of deities and saints within Yoruba and Catholic syncretism, or Lucum铆. Lucum铆, also known as Santeria, meaning 鈥渨ay of the saints鈥�, is a concept enmeshed in the culture and spiritual life of many Cubans and Cuban Americans. 

 Raised in a Cuban biracial family, Elliot & Erick were exposed to a variety of religious practices in Catholicism and Santeria, or Lucum铆, on both sides of their family which illuminated them to the parallels and divergent tangents of the two spiritual worlds. Enslaved Yorubans of West Africa developed Lucum铆 in Cuba to continue practicing their traditional religion Isese, under the guise of worship of Catholic saints throughout Spanish colonial domination. Catholic saints became placeholders for Yoruban orishas, or deities, who themselves are icons for themes in the natural world, represented by colors. 

Lucum铆 went from a hidden, closed practice to an accepted part of culture in Cuban society that exists side by side with Catholicism and Christianity, despite the anti-clericalism of Cuban politics. Even though there is a population wide understanding and general tolerance of Lucum铆 in Cuban society, Catholicism is still used to mask Lucum铆 or Santero practices by some, as obscurity, mysticism, and at times, stigma, overshadow the religion.