No es fácil, pero

No es fácil, pero by Gabriel Sosa is a series of banners that invite a meditation on hope, salvation, and action. The phrase "No es fácil" retains its meaning of "it ain't easy" across the Spanish-speaking world. However, it assumes a special relevance in Cuban slang. During Cuba's Special Period in the 1990s, "no es fácil" became a common phrase in everyday life used to collectively recognize the country's economic struggles after the fall of the Soviet Union. It has become a permanent element in Cuban vocabulary to express a shared sense of compassion in the face of a collective obstacle. Shown at City Hall, the banners resituate this phrase for our current time, embracing the power and presence of the Spanish language in Boston and encouraging the public to fill in the blanks themselves. This gesture simultaneously affirms that no "one size fits all" response exists, while also offering room to imagine what different responses might be possible. 

Each banner repeats the same sentence in a different font and color inviting the viewers to consider the various shapes and forms language takes, and the discourses this creates. From the typography used in headliners in Cuba’s newspaper Granma, to the typeface required in briefs and petitions for the U.S. Supreme Court, the artist explores the way messages get across and how trust is deeply tied to presentation.