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Artwork Description

El Libro Supremo de la Suerte, Rose Marie Cromwell offers a profound exploration of Havana through photographs taken over seven years. The title, meaning "The Supreme Book of Luck," references the charadas—booklets used to interpret everyday objects and experiences into numbers for a covert lottery system in Havana. Cromwell draws parallels between this practice and her photography, describing how ordinary moments like "a turtle on the sidewalk" or "a can of red paint" became meaningful and monumental through her lens. The book’s design, mirrors Havana's chaotic and multisensorial essence, reflecting the randomness of both the lottery and life itself. For Cromwell, this work represents a personal and artistic coming of age, as well as a tribute to the symbols and experiences that shaped her understanding of the city. Through richly colored and evocative imagery, Cromwell captures the intimacy of her connection with Havana, rejecting objectivity and embracing her role as both observer and participant. Cromwell’s work lyrically intertwines the precision of numbers with the mysticism of luck, celebrating a culture that defies easy interpretation. Co-published by Light Work, the book received the Light Work Photobook Award 2018, which honors emerging and underrepresented artists deserving of international recognition. El Libro Supremo de la Suerte is both an homage to Havana and a testament to Cromwell’s deeply personal and immersive artistic practice.