Jorge Luis Borges & María Kodama: The Infinite Encounter

Preview: Jorge Luis Borges & María Kodama: The Infinite Encounter

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About the Work

It is a rare occurrence when two exceptional individuals with similar interests meet by chance, but such was the case with Jorge Luis Borges (1899-1986), one of the most notable literary figures of the 20th century, and his second wife, María Kodama. They met in 1953 at a bookstore in Buenos Aires, where she was a high school student and he was already a well-known writer who was gradually losing his eyesight. Sharing a deep interest in various cultures, Borges and María were both infinitely curious and adventurous spirits. From 1973 onwards, they traveled extensively, with María acting as his eyes.

Borges was an avid lover of libraries, and this literary image was often repeated in his works. He was appointed director of the National Library in Buenos Aires in 1955. Borges was a master of blending different literary formats, such as essays, poems, and short stories, and his unique style blurred the lines between reality and fiction. His use of symbols such as labyrinths, mirrors, and chess was remarkable, with his language being clear and his style almost laconic. He loved riddles and paradoxes, which added a sense of magic to his works, thus creating a new literary genre. Throughout his life, Borges remained curious and continued to read and write. "The work of a poet never ends. You are continuously receiving things from the external world... and a revelation can come at any time," he once said.

After being diagnosed with cancer in 1984, Borges decided to keep his condition a secret. Together with María, he moved to Geneva to spend his final days. As Borges gradually lost his eyesight, María became his guide, support, and companion. After Borges passed away, he named Kodama his sole heir and literary custodian, thus entrusting her with the preservation of his legacy. This volume, produced in collaboration with the Fundación Internacional Jorge Luis Borges in Buenos Aires, showcases rarely seen photographs and delves into one of the most significant love stories of our time, intertwined with Borges's compelling poems and manuscripts, allowing readers to discover the celebrated Argentine writer's intriguing oeuvre.

About the Author

Cristina Carrillo de Albornoz is an independent art curator for museums worldwide, having previously served as a diplomat for the United Nations. She is also an accomplished author and art critic, having contributed to publications such as Spanish, Italian, German, and Mexican Vogue; The Art Newspaper and The Observer in the UK; Beaux Arts and L'Oeil in France; El País and AD in Spain; and La Repubblica in Italy. Carrillo de Albornoz has written twelve books for Assouline, including volumes on Balthus, Santiago Calatrava, Ai Weiwei, and Fernando Botero. She has curated exhibitions at prominent institutions worldwide, featuring artists such as Rubens, Balthus, Fernando Botero, Santiago Calatrava, Manolo Blahnik, and 2000 Nobel Prize winner Gao Xingjian. Carrillo de Albornoz collaborates with Arthemisia, a leading Italian company for organizing art exhibitions, Iconic Images, the most significant photography archive management company, and art galleries such as Marlborough in New York and White Cube in London. Additionally, she works with artists such as Robert Rauschenberg, Frank Stella, Ai Weiwei, Harland Miller, Tadao Ando, and Zaha Hadid, among others.

"Assouline is more than a publishing house, it is a lifestyle brand."

New York Magazine