On the occasion of the event that celebrates 150 years of Patagonian cartography, 1770-1920: 150 years of Patagonian cartography which will take place in Montepulciano, we interviewed Norma Alcaman Riffo, director of the Society of Chilean Bibliófili, curator of the Museum of the Book of the Sea and ambassador of the Pigafetta 500 Association of Italy, in Chile who was invited to participate.
Norma will certainly be thrilled by her participation in the 1770-1920 event: 150 years of Patagonian cartography which will take place in Montepulciano on 8 May 2021 at the temple of San Biagio at 16.30 pm. We remind you that the event will be broadcast live from the facebook page Tuscan Bibliographic Society and from the facebook page of italiani.it.
Yes, they are and I would like, first of all, to thank Dr. Paolo Tiezzi, President of the Tuscan Bibliographic Society, for his very welcome invitation to participate in this international cultural activity. Activity that acts as a bridge between Italy and Chile, between Europe and Latin America.
She is the director of the Society of Chilean Bibliófili. What does the company you manage do?
The Society of Chilean Bibliophiles, founded in 1945, aims to preserve the "culture of the book". To this end, it brings together collectors and scholars, promotes research and reprinting of ancient texts. Texts that represent real cornerstones of the Chilean cultural heritage in the fields of literature, law, history, arts and sciences.
How was the Chilean-Italian international collaboration born?
This peculiar form of Chilean-Italian international collaboration was initiated on August 12, 2019. On that day, the president of the Chilean Bibliographic Society, Ricardo Couyoumdjian, and I signed an International Cultural Cooperation Protocol with the President of the Tuscan Bibliographic Society, the 'lawyer Paolo Tiezzi. This Protocol aims to give life to various projects concerning the organization of exhibitions, the publication and other activities of common interest aimed at disseminating the study of the ancient book and promoting the book itself, as one of the noblest creations of the human intellect and an essential means for the transmission of ideas, emotions, knowledge and culture.
In 2020, to celebrate our first 75 years of activity, we paid tribute to the most famous of our members: Pablo Neruda, who on 10 December 1971 received the Nobel Prize for literature. For this reason, we organized the first Chilean-Italian virtual exhibition in close collaboration with the Italian friends of the Tuscan Bibliographic Society, expertly coordinated by the partner Alessandra Basso. We firmly believe that culture is a bridge that unites different countries. In our case, the bridge that connected Chile and Italy is to be found in the extraordinary poetic work of Pablo Neruda. A work recognized and appreciated all over the world which has further strengthened the bond between two countries which are geographically very distant, but which are also very close by virtue of their common Latin heritage, great cultural affinity and solid friendship.
And this year?
This year we are extremely honored that, as part of our Cooperation Protocol, the friends of the Tuscan Bibliographic Society and its President, Paolo Tiezzi, have decided to share with us their precious collection of ancient Patagonian engravings, a mythical land that inspired great travelers. In fact, the Pacific Ocean, Cape Horn and the Strait of Magellan have always represented demanding challenges for navigators and have become places that now belong to the maritime imaginary of all humanity.
For this reason, Patagonia can be considered a sort of metaphor for human life rather than a geographical space. This is undoubtedly very significant, especially in these pandemic days, because it inspires us and reminds us that humans can navigate stormy seas and, although they may be afraid of shipwreck, they are always able to overcome difficult circumstances by relying on their own. courage, one's faith and patience.
Patagonia is often represented as the end of the world, but it can also represent the beginning of it for those who, overcoming the adversities of life, are able to overcome themselves.
Well done Norma!
Good!