Elsa Wiezell
Encyclopedia
Elsa Wiezell is a Paraguay
an poet and teacher. Her work also includes paintings that reside in art galleries and cultural centers of Asuncion. She was born in Asuncion
, Paraguay
, daughter of Julia Apezteguía and Rubén Wiezell, of Swedish descent.
. They moved later and definitively to Asunción. She completed her primary studies in Asuncion at the International School.
In her youth, her inclination towards poetry was evident, and she began her first literary works at that time. Entranced in her thoughts, she always searched for places of self-discovery. This took her to the college studies at the National University of Asuncion, where she finished her studies with a bachelor's degree in philosophy and literature in 1950.
Committed to the diffusion of arts and culture within Paraguay, she founded such institutions as the Modern Art Museum, the journal The Feminist (for which she was chief editor), and the Belle Arts School, serving as director from 1965 to 1977.
, USA) and Norma Suiffet (Professor of Literature at Institute of Superior Studies in Uruguay and Specialist in Spanish Philosophy at the University of Salamanca
, Spain
).
The inspiration and subjects of her works are almost tangible. Water is a recurrent subject, and she also refers to loneliness and to the dreams that usually clash with a reality manifested, for example, as "painfull destiny of the body at the earth...". Carlos Sabat Ercasty has written, "The work of Elsa Wiezell is beautiful and dignified, predetermined by a noble double heroism, marching high and sustaining flight..."
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
an poet and teacher. Her work also includes paintings that reside in art galleries and cultural centers of Asuncion. She was born in Asuncion
Asunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...
, Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
, daughter of Julia Apezteguía and Rubén Wiezell, of Swedish descent.
Childhood and youth
She spent her childhood surrounded by her family, playing games and pranks with her siblings Genoveva and Nills in the once quiet streets of Zeballos CuéZeballos Cué
Zeballos Cué is a neighbourhood of Asunción, Paraguay....
. They moved later and definitively to Asunción. She completed her primary studies in Asuncion at the International School.
In her youth, her inclination towards poetry was evident, and she began her first literary works at that time. Entranced in her thoughts, she always searched for places of self-discovery. This took her to the college studies at the National University of Asuncion, where she finished her studies with a bachelor's degree in philosophy and literature in 1950.
Career
After graduating, she taught Secondary Level psychology courses at the Benjamin Aceval School in Asunción. She was also in charge of the psychology class at the University of Columbia.Committed to the diffusion of arts and culture within Paraguay, she founded such institutions as the Modern Art Museum, the journal The Feminist (for which she was chief editor), and the Belle Arts School, serving as director from 1965 to 1977.
Publications
Her prolific literary output has positioned her as one of the most active people in the artistic and cultural area of Asunción with more than four decades of unceasing poetic labor.| Year | Work |
|---|---|
| 1950 | Poemas de un mundo en brumas (Poems of A World in Fog), her first poem book Tronco al cielo (Trunk to the Sky) |
| 1951 | Barro de estrellas (Star's Mud) |
| 1956 | Poema ciego (Blind Poem) |
| 1961 | Por las calles de Cristo (On the Streets of Christ) |
| 1962 | Órbita de visiones (Orbit of Visions) |
| 1964 | El canto y la luz (The Sing and The Light). A book rich in original images, the verses are free. The main subject is the anguish of living in a world that lies and scares. |
| 1965 | Tiempo de amor (Time of Love) |
| 1966 | Temblor de acacias (Tremor of Acacias). This is a book of love poems wherein the mentioned feeling is the main character. Mensaje para hombres nuevos (A Message for New Men). Speaks of freedom and yearning to reflect on others, giving the best of oneself. |
| 1967 | Palabras para otro planeta (Words to Another Planet). With a very special characteristic, taking science as a poetic subject. Has a serene and simple style. |
| 1968 | Eco tridimensional (Three-dimensional Echo). Deals with classic subjects in a new style. The main subjects are the anguish of the men about life, and the death as a transcendental state of men. Puente sobre el río tapecué (Bridge Over the Tapecué River) |
| 1969 | Poema ultrasónico (Ultrasonic Poem). Of symbolist and impressionist style. |
| 1970 | Sembradores del Sol (Seeders of the Sun) |
| 1972 | Virazón Considered the best of her poetic work. Poem of epic style full of fierce fights and anguish for her suffering and bleeding people. |
| 1974 | Pobladores fieros (Fiery Inhabitants) La cosecha del viento norte (The Northern Wind Harvest) |
| 1975 | El amor de la brisa del sur (The Love of the Southern Breeze) |
| 1976 | El duende fugitivo (The Fugitive Goblin) |
| 1982 | Antología (Anthology) |
| 1990 | Corceles de alborada (Steeds of Dawn) |
| 1991 | El colibrí de quebrada (The Hummingbird of Broken) |
| 1992 | Poemas del aire profundo (Poems of the Profound Air) Escorzo poético |
| 1994 | La tierra de los maizales (The Land of Cornfields) Los dos y el mar (The Two of Us and The Sea) |
| 1995 | Rumbo al arcoiris (Heading toward the Rainbow) |
| 1996 | Memoria de amor efímero (Memories of an Ephemeral Love) |
| 1997 | Canto libertario (Libertarian Song) |
| 2003 | Algas azules (Blue Algae) Temblor de acacias (Tremor of Acacias) |
| 2004 | El hombre de la nube (The man of the Cloud) |
| 2005 | Barranco (Gorge) Del amor al olvido (From Love to Oblivion) |
| 2006 | Canto entre las piedras (Sing Among the Stones) Poética del amor (Poetics of Love) Antología (Anthology) La calesita (The carrousel) Lirondela Este es mi pueblo (These are My People). A compilation of brief literary work for children, with a didactic guide for teachers. |
Awards
In her career, Wiezell has been rewarded many times in her own country and abroad. Many scholars study her work, including Charles Carlisle (Professor of Spanish Literature at Southwest Texas University in TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, USA) and Norma Suiffet (Professor of Literature at Institute of Superior Studies in Uruguay and Specialist in Spanish Philosophy at the University of Salamanca
Salamanca
Salamanca is a city in western Spain, in the community of Castile and León. Because it is known for its beautiful buildings and urban environment, the Old City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. It is the most important university city in Spain and is known for its contributions to...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
).
| Year | Outstanding Activity |
|---|---|
| 1956 | Honorable Mention - League Pro Women's Rights Honorable Mention - Guarani Writers for her book "Bridge over the Tapecué River" Best Spanish-American Lyric in Gebers, Sweden |
| 1966 | Selected along with Juana de Ibarbourou Juana de Ibarbourou Juana Fernández Morales Vd.ª De Ibarbourou, also known as Juana de América, was a Uruguayan poet of Galician origin. She was one of the most popular poets of Spanish America... and Alfonsina Storni Alfonsina Storni Alfonsina Storni was one of the most important Latin-American poets of the modernist period.-Life:Storni was born in Sala Capriasca, Switzerland to an Argentine beer industrialist living in Switzerland for a few years. There, Storni learned to speak Italian... , Ocara Gallery of Honor |
| 1970 | Greatest Poets of the World (selection of 1970) only representative of the Paraguayan poetry (Ben Porter, California California California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... , USA) Honorary Member (Phi Sigma) The National Foreign Language. Honorable Mention - 13th Spring Hall from Athenaeum for her work "Belén". Selected as Latin-American representative of "The New Christian Revolution" Der Bu Bist in Exil, Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... . |
| 1977 | Honorary Citizen of the State of Texas, USA. Merit Honors - Institute of Docent Formation. Universidad Iberoamericana (Asuncion) |
| 1992 | First Prize in Regional Integration Literature (Argentina) Distinguished Cultural Maker. Honor Mural. Universidad Iberoamericana (Asuncion) Honorable Mention. "Eternal gratitude for her aid to childhood and youth". Institute of Docent Formation. Universidad Iberoamericana. Honor Merit in Docent Formation. Universidad Iberoamericana (Asuncion). |
Style
In her work can be perceived a placid poetic style. Her loose verses give the sensation of peaceful freedom and smooth movement. Her style is rich in literary language.The inspiration and subjects of her works are almost tangible. Water is a recurrent subject, and she also refers to loneliness and to the dreams that usually clash with a reality manifested, for example, as "painfull destiny of the body at the earth...". Carlos Sabat Ercasty has written, "The work of Elsa Wiezell is beautiful and dignified, predetermined by a noble double heroism, marching high and sustaining flight..."