Pioneers of art: Tribute to Norah Borges and Maruja Mallo at the Spanish Embassy

Two prominent figures from the early 20th century art scene, painters Norah Borges (Argentina) and Maruja Mallo (Spain) , will be the focus of the conference "Transatlantic Pioneers in the Time of Men 1930-1970" , which will take place tomorrow, July 2, at 6 p.m. at the Spanish Embassy.

Organized by the Ortega y Gasset Foundation Argentina and the Cultural Center of Spain in Buenos Aires CCEBA , the event, which seeks to give an in-depth look into the history of women who dared to break with the established order , challenging the prevailing worldview, will feature the participation of the Spanish curator Patricia Molins and Sergio Baur, president of the National Academy of Fine Arts.

Born in 1901 as Leonor Fanny Borges Acevedo , Norah developed a unique work linked to ultraism, which was often overshadowed by two strong personalities who surrounded her: her brother Jorge Luis Borges, and her husband, the Spanish essayist and poet Guillermo de Torre.

"I like everything in my paintings to be still and silent," the painter and illustrator, who was associated with the Florida Group in 1920s Buenos Aires, used to say. She explored Cubism and created illustrations for magazines that would shape Argentine culture, such as Proa and Martín Fierro .

Throughout his career, he used a variety of techniques: oil, watercolor, woodcut, engraving, ink and pencil drawings, tempera, and acrylic. He also designed the set for a play by Federico García Lorca . He continued to paint until his death in 1998.

Meanwhile, the surrealist painter Maruja Mallo (1902-1995), a member of the Generation of '27 in Spain, went into exile in Argentina, Uruguay and Chile following the outbreak of the Civil War in her country, but her work was only rediscovered in recent decades.

"Through her work, she conveyed her vision of women's empowerment , exploring female identity and experience in a society that often ignored them. Her art became a tool for vindication, inviting women to take their place in the world and express themselves without fear," wrote Inés Viñuales, director of the Ortega y Gasset Foundation in Argentina, about her.

Both artists, with their prolific output and unique imagery , had an impact on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, and that is why they were chosen as the protagonists of this event, where their careers will be reviewed and their similarities will be explored in depth.

The event will take place on Wednesday, July 2nd, at 6:00 PM, at the Spanish Embassy (Figueroa Alcorta 3102, entrance on Mariscal Ramón Castilla Street). Admission is free with advance registration by emailing [email protected]. Space is limited, the organizers announced.

After participating in this conference, art historian Patricia Molins (with extensive experience in the Exhibitions Department of the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía) will lead the series "Displacements," which seeks to reflect on curatorial practice, on Thursday, July 3 at 4 p.m. at the CCEBA, Paraná 1159.

With various guests in Buenos Aires throughout the year (including Lluís Nacenta, Manuel Borja Villel, and Chus Martínez), the "Displacements" series aims to "explore what the practice of curatorship means today in multiple and changing contexts and territories. Given this scenario, we believe it is a priority to understand, share, and debate, with the help of leading professionals, the challenges and opportunities that current curatorial practice entails," explained María Morazo, director of the CCEBA.