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Gonzalo Rojas, poemas ilustrados
Cuando le preguntaban a Gonzalo Rojas por el sentido de su poesía –leída hoy con el mayor interés en toda hispanoamérica– explicaba que su tarea consistía en hacer “zumbar” las palabras, los versos, los poemas. Este zumbido no es equiparable a las formas que empleó –métricas variables desparramadas por la página, verso libre– ni a sus temas más recurrentes –el amor, la muerte, la infancia–; este zumbido obedece a la vibración de lo innombrable a través de lo nombrado, por ejemplo cuando escribe “la eternidad es esto mismo”.
- GenresPoetry
60 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
About the author
Gonzalo Rojas
64 books15 followersGonzalo Rojas Pizarro (December 20, 1917 – April 25, 2011) was a Chilean poet. His work is part of the continuing Latin American avant-garde literary tradition of the twentieth century.
Biography
He was the seventh son of a coal miner, born in the port town of Lebu, Chile.[1] Later on, during his youth he was the editor of the magazine Antarctica in Santiago de Chile and University lecturer in Valparaiso.
Between 1938-1941 he played a part in the surrealist group Mandrágora founded by Braulio Arenas, Teófilo Cid and Enrique Gómez Correa. Seven years later in 1948 his first book of poems was published in Santiago.
After the 1973 Chilean coup d'état he was forced to go into exile, an “undocumented person”. He was stripped of his diplomatic position and was also banned from teaching at any Chilean university. The University of Rostock in East Germany provided him with a placement.
He taught at universities in Germany, the United States, Spain, and Mexico.
Thanks to a Guggenheim Fellowship, Gonzalo Rojas went back to Chile in 1979, to Chillán, 400 kilometers to the south of the capital, to live permanently, yet was still unable to teach at a university there.
Subsequently, he lived in the United States between 1980 and 1994. From 1980 to 1985, Gonzalo was a visiting professor at Columbia University and the University of Chicago, then from 1985 to 1994, he held the title of professor at Brigham Young University.
He was awarded the Chilean National Prize for Literature and the Queen Sofia Prize of Iberian American Poetry (by the King of Spain), both in 1992. He also received the Octavio Paz prize of Mexico, and the José Hernández prize of Argentina. He was awarded the Cervantes Prize for 2003 the 23 of April 2004.
On the morning of April 25, 2011, Rojas died as a consequence of a stroke he suffered earlier in February. The government declared two days of official mourning. He was buried in Chillan, Chile.[1] He was considered one of the greatest modern poets in Chile, together with Nicanor Parra.
His poetry has been translated into English, German, French, Portuguese, Russian, Italian, Romanian, Swedish, Chinese, Turkish, and Greek.
Biography
He was the seventh son of a coal miner, born in the port town of Lebu, Chile.[1] Later on, during his youth he was the editor of the magazine Antarctica in Santiago de Chile and University lecturer in Valparaiso.
Between 1938-1941 he played a part in the surrealist group Mandrágora founded by Braulio Arenas, Teófilo Cid and Enrique Gómez Correa. Seven years later in 1948 his first book of poems was published in Santiago.
After the 1973 Chilean coup d'état he was forced to go into exile, an “undocumented person”. He was stripped of his diplomatic position and was also banned from teaching at any Chilean university. The University of Rostock in East Germany provided him with a placement.
He taught at universities in Germany, the United States, Spain, and Mexico.
Thanks to a Guggenheim Fellowship, Gonzalo Rojas went back to Chile in 1979, to Chillán, 400 kilometers to the south of the capital, to live permanently, yet was still unable to teach at a university there.
Subsequently, he lived in the United States between 1980 and 1994. From 1980 to 1985, Gonzalo was a visiting professor at Columbia University and the University of Chicago, then from 1985 to 1994, he held the title of professor at Brigham Young University.
He was awarded the Chilean National Prize for Literature and the Queen Sofia Prize of Iberian American Poetry (by the King of Spain), both in 1992. He also received the Octavio Paz prize of Mexico, and the José Hernández prize of Argentina. He was awarded the Cervantes Prize for 2003 the 23 of April 2004.
On the morning of April 25, 2011, Rojas died as a consequence of a stroke he suffered earlier in February. The government declared two days of official mourning. He was buried in Chillan, Chile.[1] He was considered one of the greatest modern poets in Chile, together with Nicanor Parra.
His poetry has been translated into English, German, French, Portuguese, Russian, Italian, Romanian, Swedish, Chinese, Turkish, and Greek.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
February 3, 2024
This is a fantastic starting point for anybody interested in the works of Gonzalo Rojas. This charming little collection offers a good overview of some of his most famouse poems while also providing great collage illustrations for them. It is a beautiful anthology made with a lot of heart and passion. The selection of poems is fantastic. It includes his classics from "La miseria del hombre" as well as some of his later pieces. Among my favourites I have to mention "Orompello" with all its bitterness, the charming "Qué se hace cuando se ama", the meta-poetry of "Escrito con L". There is also my personal favourite "Los días van tan rápido", a bittersweet reflection about the nature of life and its ephemereal beauty. The illustrations are done by Carmen Cardemil, who does a pretty good job at highlighting the metaphysical undertone of Rojas' poetry with images that are vague enough while still retaining a semblance of reality. Overall, a gorgeous book.
This anthology was given to me as a Christmas present by my girlfriend, so it holds a especial place in my heart. What can I say? A great present.
This anthology was given to me as a Christmas present by my girlfriend, so it holds a especial place in my heart. What can I say? A great present.
Displaying 1 of 1 review