Art, thought, and memory: two events focus on the figure of Josefina Plá

Asunción, Paraguay, is set to celebrate the multifaceted legacy of Josefina Plá, a pivotal figure in 20th-century Paraguayan culture, through two distinct events this Friday, July 3rd. The Spain Cultural Center in Asunción (CCEA) will inaugurate a new exhibition space with a show dedicated to Plá, alongside an interdisciplinary conversation aimed at re-examining her extensive trajectory and enduring influence.

The exhibition, titled "Allí donde terminan de colgarse las hamacas del viento" (There where the hammocks of the wind finish hanging), draws its name from one of Plá's poems. It will feature a collection of prints from private collections, ceramics, and other artifacts. These pieces are drawn from the artist's own collection, donated to the Spanish state in 1989 and now part of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).

This year marks a significant moment for commemorating the intellectual, who was born in Spain and later became a central figure in Paraguayan arts and thought. The events coincide with the 50th anniversary of the CCEA, a venue where Plá was actively involved, and the centenary of her arrival in Paraguay. The exhibition also continues efforts to highlight her contributions, including her symbolic inclusion in the Instituto Cervantes' "Caja de las Letras" (Box of Letters).

Beyond her literary contributions, Josefina Plá was a visual artist, historian, playwright, translator, ceramist, and essayist. Her prolific output and her presence in intellectual and artistic spheres, often dominated by men during her time, positioned her as a key catalyst for critical thinking and cultural transformation in Paraguay throughout the 20th century. The CCEA's facade has also been updated with an intervention inspired by Plá's series of prints depicting the Payaguá people.