This project delves into a confluence of personal history, science fiction, and contemporary socio-political realities. It takes as its starting point the unfinished novel "Extraterrestres en la Pequeña Habana" (Aliens in Little Havana), a science fiction graphic novel penned by my uncle, Manolo, in the early 1990s. Only fragments remain of Manolo's imagined alien invasion of Miami, yet they serve as a powerful springboard for the exploration of fear, political manipulation, and the enduring impact of the Cold War. Science fiction, born amidst the paranoia of the Cold War, serves as a lens through which we can examine the anxieties of our time. The Red Scare communism that drove mass Cuban immigration resonates eerily with contemporary political tactics that exploit fear for control. Manolo's unfinished novel, while fantastical, reflects these realities, hinting at the ways in which fear can be manipulated for political gain.

This project is a first step in a dialogue with what Manolo began. Drawing inspiration from his unfinished story and leveraging the power of lens-based media, I craft images that explore how perception is shaped and altered. The photograph, acting as a space and a place, becomes a canvas upon which I merge personal stories, historical narratives, and contemporary anxieties. By capturing suburban Miami at night, these images evoke a sense of unease and uncertainty, echoing the atmosphere of Manolo's fictional alien invasion. While the Cold War served as a backdrop for Manolo's fictional narrative, the project transcends this specific historical context. It delves into the broader issue of how political factions throughout history have instrumentalized fear to maintain power and control.