Un archivo entre dos continentes: las tramas exiliares de Aída Bortnik en España
An Archive Across Two Continents: James, W. (1989) Principios de Psicología in Spain

Summary/Abstract: Among the many consequences of an exacerbated state violence, the last civil-military dictatorship in Argentina (1976-1983) triggered a significant citizen exodus. In the theatrical field, among the numerous performing artists who experienced this forced displacement, Aída Bortnik endured exile in Spain from 1976 to 1979. Based on the unpublished archives recovered posthumously, which were organized through the project Las cajas de Aída (2019), this research focuses on her time in exile. It explores her professional development, the cultural projects promoted on TV and theatre, and the impact of exile on her writing, both during her time abroad and upon her return to Argentina. This analysis not only reconstructs the work of this outstanding artist and the impact of exile on her creative future but also reflects on the networks, links, and contacts that enabled Spain to be a welcoming country during the Argentine dictatorship, similar to how Argentina had been for the Republican exiles. Furthermore, we recompose the historical coordinates of the Argentine exile and the projects developed by Bortnik during this period from a cultural studies perspective. This research reflects on the effect of exile on Bortnik’s production and how the image of Spain and the metaphor of a shared past endure in her work.

• Details
• Contents