Fine Art Magazine June 18

Cuba was the largest export market for road cruisers in the 1950s, but Markus was still surprised to see how many of the old American cars, known locally as “Almendrones” still drive around today. Cadillac, Buick, Ford, Pontiac, Dodge and Oldsmobiles were everywhere, and driving them was like piloting a time machine. They were repaired with everything from a Lada’s rear axle to a Hyundai engine and sometimes held together by putty! The Cubans, it turns out, are extremely creative when it comes to car maintenance. The surfaces varied from fields of debris to wide, fast runway style roads with no markings, and common hazards included oncoming trucks, roadside oxcarts, dogs, pigs, chickens and horse drawn carriages which are used as taxis and for transporting goods and often dictate the flow of traffic. Despite the challenges Markus had a truly inspirational trip: the hospitality, the music, the people, and above all the first hand encounters with so many extraordinary cars has renewed his passion for his subject, and this is reflected in his recent works. 32 MARKUS HAUB ARTIST FEATURE