Cordelia, Daugther of the Sea
Visual Art – Sofia Bonati
- Title background picture: La Boca is one of Buenos Aires’ most iconic neighborhoods, known for its vibrant, multicolored buildings and rich cultural history. Famous for its connection to tango music and dance, La Boca’s lively streets, especially Caminito, are filled with artists, performers, and a sense of Argentina’s artistic spirit. Originally a working-class port district, it has evolved into a symbol of Buenos Aires’ creative energy, blending the city’s immigrant roots with its love for art and music.
Argentina’s culture is a vibrant fusion of European influences and indigenous traditions, reflecting the country’s diverse history and people. Known worldwide for its passionate tango music and dance, Argentina also boasts a rich literary heritage, with writers like Jorge Luis Borges, Ernesto Sabato and Julio Cortázar shaping global literature. The nation’s love for soccer is legendary, with icons like Diego Maradona inspiring generations, while its renowned Malbec wine has become a celebrated symbol of Argentine craftsmanship and flavor.
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Artist Interview: Sofia Bonatiwebsite
Question: Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you became an artist?
Both my parents were artists, designers and/or illustrators, so I grew up surrounded by painting materials, art books and paintings. I studied geology in University, but I couldn’t stay away from drawing and painting for too long… I decided to pursue a career in art when I moved to the UK with my first child, I didn’t have the time to get a full time job so I decided to try my luck.
Q: What have been some pivotal moments or influences in your career so far—whether personal, cultural, or artistic?
I think my love of nature and outdoors comes from spending summers in the Argentinian countryside. My father playing music from ”Chalchaleros” (folklore band) in the guitar is a memory that lives with me forever.
Q: Are there any artists—visual or otherwise—that have profoundly shaped your artistic philosophy or technique?
Many of the books that we had on my house as I was growing up had an impact on my current work, such as Escher, Shigeo Fukuda or Charles Bragg, which plays on the idea on what’s real or possible.
Q: The figure in Cordelia wears a striking red dress and seems to stand in a dreamlike space. Can you telus more about the symbolism or visual choices in the piece?
Many times the choice of colour comes first, I’m just thinking on what I palette I like to do, and then Think of the type of piece I might be using those colour in. In this case, I love that type of bright warm red, so the challenge was to include it in a sea-inspired piece.
Q: Do you see a role for art in addressing social or cultural themes, particularly in a time of global change?
Art has always served as a mirror of the current world state, but I think that at this point art can help bring some pause and self reflection to the constant bombardment of news and social media.
MUSIC: 'Alfonsina y el Mar' - Ariel Ramírezstream music
Composer
Ariel Ramírez (1921-2010) was an influential Argentine composer and pianist, celebrated for his significant contributions to Latin American folk music. His work often blended traditional Argentine styles with classical and choral music, creating timeless pieces that resonate with deep cultural and emotional significance.
One of his most famous compositions is Alfonsina y el Mar, a hauntingly beautiful song inspired by the life and tragic death of the Argentine poet Alfonsina Storni. The song, with lyrics by Félix Luna, reflects the poet’s sorrow and her final walk into the sea, symbolizing both her struggles and her peaceful departure. Set to a melancholic yet captivating melody, Alfonsina y el Mar has become a beloved classic, performed by numerous artists around the world, embodying a poignant tribute to both Storni’s life and the emotional depth of Argentine folk music.
Arranger
Jorge Cardoso (1949) is a renowned Argentine guitarist, composer, and medical doctor, widely respected for his contributions to classical guitar music. Born in 1949 in Posadas, Misiones, Cardoso has composed over 400 works for guitar, many of which draw on traditional Latin American rhythms and melodies, blending them with classical forms. His pieces, like Milonga and Aire Norteño, are celebrated for their technical intricacy, lyrical beauty, and deep connection to the folkloric roots of Argentina and other Latin American countries.
In addition to his composing and performing career, Cardoso has authored influential pedagogical works on guitar technique and music theory, making him an important figure in the development of modern classical guitar. His music is widely performed by guitarists around the world, appreciated for its rhythmic vitality, expressiveness, and cultural richness.
Musician
Sam Desmet – classical guitarist from Belgium, known for blending tradition with innovation, using music to explore and celebrate cultural diversity through collaborations with artists from various disciplines.
Song Lyrics
Alfonsina y el Mar
Por la blanda arena que lame el mar
Su pequeña huella no vuelve más
Un sendero solo de pena y silencio llegó
Hasta el agua profunda
Un sendero solo de penas mudas llegó
Hasta la espuma
Sabe Dios qué angustia te acompañó
Qué dolores viejos calló tu voz
Para recostarte arrullada en el canto de las
Caracolas marinas
La canción que canta en el fondo oscuro del mar
La caracola
Te vas Alfonsina con tu soledad
¿Qué poemas nuevos fuiste a buscar?
Una voz antigua de viento y de sal
Te requiebra el alma y la está llevando
Y te vas hacia allá, como en sueños
Dormida, Alfonsina, vestida de mar
Cinco sirenitas te llevarán
Por caminos de algas y de coral
Y fosforescentes caballos marinos harán
Una ronda a tu lado
Y los habitantes del agua van a jugar
Pronto a tu lado
Bájame la lámpara un poco más
Déjame que duerma, nodriza, en paz
Y si llama él, no le digas que estoy
Dile que Alfonsina no vuelve
Y si llama él, no le digas nunca que estoy
Di que me he ido
Te vas Alfonsina con tu soledad
¿Qué poemas nuevos fuiste a buscar?
Una voz antigua de viento y de sal
Te requiebra el alma y la está llevando
Y te vas hacia allá, como en sueños
Dormida, Alfonsina, vestida de mar
Alfonsina and the Sea
On the soft sand that the sea touches
Her footprints won’t be seen again
A path just of pain and silence
Came Til the deep water,
A path just of muted pains
Came Til the foam.
God knows the anguish that accompanied you
What old griefs silenced your voice
To lie down lulled by the singing ff the seashells
The song that sings in the depth
Dark of the sea
The shell
You leave Alfonsina with your loneliness
What new poems you went to search?
An old voice of wind and salt
Breaks once again your soul and it is taking it
And you go to there like in dreams
Slept, Alfonsina, dressed of sea…
Five mermaids will take you
On roads of seaweed and choral
And phosphorescent seahorses
Will do a round by your side
And the people from the water will play
Soon by your side.
Put the lamp down a little more
Let me to sleep in peace, nurse
And if he calls don’t tell him I am here
Tell him that Alfonsina won’t come back. .
And if he calls, don’t ever tell him that I’m here
Tell him I have gone.
You leave Alfonsina with your loneliness
What new poems you went to search?
An old voice of wind and salt
Breaks once again your soul and it is taking it
And you go to there like in dreams
Slept, Alfonsina, dressed of sea…
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Thank you!
I extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who made this project possible
To United Arts of Central Florida, thank you for believing in me as an artist and awarding me the Community Project Grant that brought this vision to life. I am also profoundly grateful to the talented composers, arrangers, and visual artists who have enriched this journey with their creativity and dedication. To my mentors, colleagues, and the audiences who support and inspire me, your belief in this project means the world.
A special thanks to my wife Elizabeth and daughter Layna. Your unwavering support and belief in me, especially when challenges seemed insurmountable, have been my foundation. This project wouldn’t exist without you standing by my side every step of the way.