The Ministry of Culture and the National Library of Peru opened an immersive exhibition titled “El viaje de Vargas Llosa: cómo el mundo se vuelve literatura” at the Buenos Aires International Book Fair on April 25. The exhibition highlights Peruvian author Mario Vargas Llosa as a traveler and keen observer, whose works draw from his experiences across different cultures and regions.
The event aims to show how these life experiences were transformed into novels, chronicles, and essays, offering visitors an innovative journey through projections, photography, sound, and video. Materials for the exhibit were provided by the Vargas Llosa family, Cátedra Vargas Llosa, and Caretas magazine. Visitors can explore key locations that shaped the writer’s life and work—from Peru to Europe—until May 11 when the fair concludes.
Officials present at the opening included Carlos Chocano Burga (Ambassador of Peru in Argentina), Carina Moreno Baca (Director General of Cultural Industries and Arts at the Ministry of Culture), and Juan Yangali Quintanilla (Head of the National Library). As part of this tribute, Cátedra Vargas Llosa also presented a dramatized reading covering Vargas Llosa’s early years through his rise as a prominent literary figure.
Peru’s participation in this year’s fair includes over 150 cultural activities such as tributes to Blanca Varela and Alfredo Bryce Echenique; performances by Ballet Folclórico Nacional and Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional; film cycles; family theater; lectures; all held in various venues throughout Buenos Aires. The full program is available online.
The Ministry of Culture of Peru fosters social inclusion by protecting heritage and promoting diversity across Peru according to its official website. It operates decentralized facilities alongside its San Borja headquarters to support cultural programs according to its official website. The ministry is part of the Peruvian Executive Branch as an autonomous body according to its official website.
The ministry promotes cultural identity while combating discrimination and racism, advancing intercultural dialogue according to its official website. It serves communities nationwide under ministerial leadership according to its official website, working since 2010 on initiatives for heritage preservation, cultural industries development, social inclusion, national identity—and safeguarding heritage while encouraging intercultural dialogue according to its official website.
