Vicente Huidobro's 127th Birthday

“Let's leave the old once and for all...In literature, I like everything that is innovation. Everything that is original.”
–Vicente Huidobro, Pasando y Pasando: crónicas y Comentarios (1914)

Today’s Doodle, illustrated by London-based guest artist Luisa Rivera, celebrates avant-garde Chilean poet and writer Vicente Huidobro on his 127th birthday. Widely known as the “father of the Creacionismo (Creationism) literary movement,” Huidobro refused to be confined by literary orthodoxy. Instead, he used the written word to push the limits of creativity. 

Vicente García-Huidobro Fernández was born in 1893 in Santiago, Chile. He became a poet like his mother, first published at the early age of 12, and went on to study literature at the University of Chile.

Gradually, he began to feel confined by traditional poetic standards, and in 1914 he rejected them in his manifesto, Non Serviam (“I Will Not Serve”).

Huidobro moved to Paris to collaborate with surrealist poets Guillaume Apollinaire and Pierre Reverdy on the literary magazine they founded, Nord-sud (North-South). In Paris, he invented Creacionismo, the idea that poets should create their own imaginary worlds instead of writing about nature in traditional styles with traditional language. Poemas árticos (“Arctic Poems,” 1918) and Saisons Choisies (“Chosen Seasons,” 1921) are some examples, but the 1931 long-form poem Altazor is Huidobro’s definitive Creacionismo work.

His well-known lines from his poem Arte Poetica (Poetic Art), “Let the verse be like a key / That opens a thousand doors,” represents his style and inspired today’s Doodle art, which infuses different images that appear in his poetry.

Huidobro wrote over 40 books, including plays, novels, manifestos, and poetry. He constantly encouraged literary experimentation and influenced many Latin American poets who succeeded him. 

¡Feliz cumpleaños, Vicente Huidobro! 

Guest Artist Q&A with Luisa Rivera

Today’s Doodle was illustrated by London-based guest artist Luisa Rivera, originally from Chile. Below, she shares her thoughts behind the making of this Doodle:

Q: Why was this topic meaningful to you personally? 

A: Vicente Huidobro is one of my favorite Chilean poets, so it's very meaningful to work with his figure and literary legacy. Being Chilean myself, it's thrilling to be chosen to illustrate his creative universe which has always been a source of inspiration in my own work.
 

Q: What were your first thoughts when you were approached about the project?

A: So much happiness! Being a huge fan of Vicente Huidobro's poetry, I felt very honored to be the illustrator working on this project. As soon as I received the brief, I started thinking about images from his poetry that could be part of the Doodle. 
 

Q: Did you draw inspiration from anything in particular for this Doodle?

A: Yes! Vicente Huidobro invented a literary movement called Creationism, where a poet would make real something that doesn't exist, so the poems are full of metaphors. Therefore, I drew inspiration from different images that appear in his work (moon, eyes, stars, birds) and especially a well known phrase: "Let the verse be like a key / that opens a thousand doors." 
 

Q: What message do you hope people take away from your Doodle?

A: I would like people to see the Doodle and think of Vicente Huidobro not only in terms of biography, but also to appreciate him as the great poet that he was. Instead of seeing elements like a pencil or paper, which are more related to the craft, the Doodle depicts the images he created. Therefore, I hope that my interpretation is an invitation for everyone to turn to his poetry, which is a great way to celebrate his 127th Birthday.

Early concepts and sketches of the Doodle