“Amazing!” Three Greeks once read a draft about Josè Martí. They were amazed at how much he knew about their country. The Josè Martí Bust stands here as a testament to his enduring connection to Greece.
Josè Martí our Cuban national hero possessed a universal ideology. It spread across unimaginable places. He remains a source of knowledge for researchers. This bust honors his vision of Greece. He saw it as a distant yet important European region.
Martí spoke of over 70 Greek cities. He mentioned towns mountains and monuments. He also wrote about rivers lakes and islands. His writings appeared in over 20 newspapers. These newspapers spanned seven countries. He quoted more than 250 Greek personalities. These figures were both real and mythological.
Josè Oriol Marrero Martínez studied Martí’s connection to Greece. He summarized his findings in a monograph. It was titled Martí and the Greek. Marrero Martínez wrote it between 2017 and 2020. He worked on it during nights and weekends. He was then a Consul of Cuba in Greece.
Marrero Martínez described the work as a modest result. It fulfilled an urgent need. It became a purpose with a sense of urgency. The research took three years. The days were intense. However the work was rewarding. It was also surprising.
The book is translated. The Greek version has 500 pages. The Spanish version has over 400. There are also 50 pages of graphics. The Topos publishing house published Martí and the Greek. The publication coincided with two important dates. It honored the 168th anniversary of Martí’s birth. It also celebrated the bicentennial of Greek Independence.
The book explores Martí’s understanding of Greece. It examines his translations of Greek motifs. José Martí studied Greek. He translated works from English and French. The book builds a theoretical framework. It explains Martí’s vision.
Martí did not just see the Greco-Roman world. He had a particular vision of Greece. This vision emerged from his writings. These writings included journalistic poetic and literary works. They also included translations into Spanish.
The book includes photographs. These images depict places cited by Martí. An annex provides a chronological ordering of Martí’s work. This work covers the period between 1869 and 1895. It is organized by day month and year.
The Cuban Embassy in Greece promoted a photographic exhibition. It was titled José Martí with Greece in the heart. The exhibition was well-received in Athens. It also gained recognition in the Lefkada Islands. Martí mentioned these islands. He spoke of the Safo jump. The exhibition also traveled to Ikaria. Composer Mikis Theodorakis was exiled there. It was displayed in Athens’s two main metro stations.
Oriol Marrero created the exhibition. He aimed to share the subject with Greek society. Over 30000 people viewed it.
Josè Martí lived a short life. He died at 42. However he left a large body of work. He inspired many researchers.
Marrero Martínez tells his Greek friends that Greece is the most Caribbean country in Europe. It has a strong insular nature. Martí noted this. He spoke of the new and intense force. It was being created in the Greek islands.
Josè Martí’s ideology became a major force in Cuban politics. He is regarded as Cuba’s martyr. This Josè Martí Bust serves as a reminder of his life.