COMO LA CIGARRA
Austin, Texas
Exhibition Dates: November 13—21, 2021
Presented by The Projecto and hosted by Furman + Keil Architects, COMO LA CIGARRA (like the cicada) is a selection of new works by Paloma Mayorga that pay tribute to the Dog Day Cicada which spends thirteen years under the Texas ground before emerging in the hot days of summer. These beings allude to a patient and reciprocal relationship with the earth that yields transformation.
On view at Furman + Keil Architects on 1211 E 11th Street, Ste 200, Austin, Texas during the Austin Studio Tour, November 13-14 & 20-21, 12-6pm.
The title of this exhibition is inspired by Argentine poet María Elena Walsh’s song of the same name, which celebrates resilience in times of turmoil. As you view the works in the exhibition, the artist invites you to listen to this interpretation of Walsh’s song by Argentine singer and cultural icon, Mercedes Sosa:
And of course, the original version by María Elena Walsh herself:
Como la cigarra, por María Elena Walsh
Lyrics
Tantas veces me mataron
Tantas veces me morí
Sin embargo estoy aquí
Resucitando
Gracias doy a la desgracia
Y a la mano con puñal
Porque me mató tan mal
Y seguí cantando
Cantando al sol
Como la cigarra
Después de un año
Bajo la tierra
Igual que sobreviviente
Que vuelve de la guerra
Tantas veces me borraron
Tantas desaparecí
A mi propio entierro fui
Sola y llorando
Hice un nudo del pañuelo
Pero me olvidé después
Que no era la única vez
Y seguí cantando
Cantando al sol
Como la cigarra
Después de un año
Bajo la tierra
Igual que sobreviviente
Que vuelve de la guerra
Tantas veces te mataron
Tantas resucitarás
Cuántas noches pasarás
Desesperando
Y a la hora del naufragio
Y la de la oscuridad
Alguien te rescatará
Para ir cantando
Cantando al sol
Como la cigarra
Después de un año
Bajo la tierra
Igual que sobreviviente
Que vuelve de la guerra
—
Like the cicada, by María Elena Walsh
Lyrics translated by Paloma Mayorga
Many times they killed me
Many times I died
Despite it all, I am here
Reviving
I’m grateful for misfortune
And the hand with a dagger
Because it killed me
And I continued to sing
Singing in the sun
Like the cicada
After a year
Underground
Like the survivor
Returning from war
Many times they erased me
Many I disappeared
I attended my own burial
Alone and weeping
I turned the handkerchief into a knot
But I later forgot
That this wasn’t the only time
And I continued to sing
Singing in the sun
Like the cicada
After a year
Underground
Like the survivor
Returning from war
Many times they killed you
Many you will revive
How many nights will you spend
Feeling desperate
And at the time of shipwreck
And of darkness
Someone will rescue you
To go on singing
Singing in the sun
Like the cicada
After a year
Underground
Like the survivor
Returning from war