Guest of the ilb 2003
Juan Gustavo Cobo Borda was born in the Columbian capital of
Bogotá in 1948. After studying literature in Bogotá, he held several
different jobs in the Columbian cultural administration. In the 80s he
was a cultural attaché in Buenos Aires. He returned to Bogotá in 1990
and worked in the cultural department of the foreign ministry –
including as the culture-political advisor to the Columbian president –
before going to Madrid as a cultural attaché. Cobo Borda, who, starting
in 1998, was the Columbian ambassador in Athens, today again lives in
Bogotá.
In addition to his political career, Cobo Borda has also done
remarkable work as a writer. His numerous critical essays are not only
dedicated to other authors – like Borges and García Márquez – but to
painting as well (“Mis Pintores,” 2002, t: My Painter). Between 1973
and 1984 he published the poetry magazine “Eco.” He has also published
numerous anthologies (such as the “Antología de la poesía
hispanoamericana,” 1985) and works. As a member of the Columbian
Academy for Language he was involved in the new edition of the
“Diccionario de la Lengua Española” (t: Dictionary of the Spanish
Language) – a project that he refers to as “another form of writing
poetry.”
Cobo Borda made his debut as poet in 1974 with the collection
“Consejos para sobrevivir” (t: Survival Advice), which was followed by
more than a dozen other books of poetry. In his verse he is known for
his pronounced use of irony or self-irony and humor, which he employs
to describe and unveil situations. He is considered a member of the
Nadaísmo group who, under the motto “nothingness or nothing,” hoped to
modernize the old rhetoric of Columbian poetry through spontaneity,
parody, and radical negation. Three main topics emerge: an examination
of the world of young people, criticism of Columbian society, and the
relationship between man and woman. His most recent publications
include the book of poetry “La musa inclemente” (2001, t: The Merciless
Muse), in which he reflects on the romantic passions. His use of
language alternates between colloquial and literary usage. The tone is
sometimes ironic, sometimes affectionate or despairing. Cobo Borda is
extremely well read, which is what forms the basis for his poetry and
essayistic work. He also knows how to articulate his wealth of thoughts
in a way that is formally concise. His works can be found in numerous
anthologies and have in part been translated into other languages.
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