María Auxiliadora Balladares Uquillas (Guayaquil, 1980) is an Ecuadorian writer, poet, and professor at Universidad San Francisco de Quito. She holds a Ph.D. in Latin American Literature from the University of Pittsburgh and has published widely in poetry, short stories, and essays. Her short story Jamón serrano won second place in the 10th Pablo Palacio Short Story Biennial, and her major works include Las vergüenzas (2013), Animal (2017), Guayaquil (2019), and Acantile duerme piloto (2022), which earned her the 2023 Jorge Carrera Andrade Award. Her writing often explores themes of identity, LGBTQI+ issues, and the natural world.
Early Life and Education
María Auxiliadora Balladares was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, in 1980. She pursued a diverse academic path, initially earning bachelor’s degrees in Sociology and Liberal Arts from Universidad San Francisco de Quito. She continued her studies with a master’s degree in Literature from the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador. Later, she completed a Ph.D. in Latin American Literature at the University of Pittsburgh in 2018. Her dissertation, titled Una rara inocencia: el debilitamiento de la metáfora en Dalton, Alegría, Ledesma Vázquez y Watanabe, explored contemporary Latin American poetry.
Literary Career
Balladares’ literary journey began with the publication of short stories in various local anthologies, where she quickly gained recognition for her unique voice and exploration of complex themes. One of her most notable early works was the short story Jamón serrano, which won second place at the 10th Pablo Palacio Short Story Biennial. This achievement marked her formal entry into Ecuador’s literary scene, showcasing her skill in navigating the intricacies of human relationships and social dynamics. The story, like much of her early work, reflects her attention to interpersonal conflict and identity, traits that would come to define her later writing.
In 2013, she published her first major work, Las vergüenzas (The Shames), a collection of ten short stories. The book was critically acclaimed for its nuanced exploration of taboo subjects such as family secrets, personal shame, and hidden desires. Among the stories, En el sótano (In the Cellar), written in 1999, became one of the standout pieces. En el sótano follows two children who accidentally discover their father’s long-hidden homosexual relationship with a man he had introduced to the family as his brother. The story exemplifies Balladares’ early commitment to addressing difficult themes such as sexual identity and familial repression. Las vergüenzas received widespread praise for its stark, unflinching prose and the emotional depth of its characters, establishing Balladares as a significant new voice in Ecuadorian fiction.
Following her success in short fiction, Balladares transitioned to poetry, continuing to explore intimate, personal, and sometimes painful themes. In 2017, she published Animal, her first poetry collection, which reflected her profound connection with animals and the natural world. The collection explored the intersection of human and animal instincts, evoking themes of wildness, survival, and kinship with the non-human world. Animal earned her second place at the prestigious Cuenca Festival de la Lira, solidifying her reputation as a versatile writer capable of moving seamlessly between genres. The work’s success reflected her growing mastery of the poetic form and her ability to evoke powerful imagery through the lens of nature.
Another key poetic work in Balladares’ career is Guayaquil, a collection published in 2019 that was inspired by a trip to her hometown. The book is structured as a poetic journal, documenting her reflections and emotional experiences during this journey. Guayaquil won first place in the 2017 Pichincha Poetry Award, a major literary accolade in Ecuador. The collection delves into themes of memory, the female body, loss, and lesbian love, combining personal history with broader social and political commentaries. The work was lauded for its lyrical intensity and thematic boldness, particularly in its exploration of LGBTQI+ identity, which was seen as groundbreaking within the conservative cultural context of Ecuador. Literary critic Daniela Alcívar Bellolio praised Guayaquil for its raw emotional power and singled out the poem A mí también me gusta Marosa di Giorgio (I Also Like Marosa di Giorgio) as a highlight of the collection, noting its exploration of eroticism and queer identity.
In 2022, Balladares released Acantile duerme piloto, a collection of twelve love poems that continued her exploration of desire, identity, and emotional intimacy. This work marked a significant maturation in her poetic voice, focusing on the complexities of love and human relationships. Acantile duerme piloto was widely celebrated, culminating in her receiving the prestigious Jorge Carrera Andrade Award in 2023, given by the Municipality of Quito to honor the best poetry book of the year. The award cemented Balladares’ status as one of Ecuador’s leading contemporary poets, further establishing her reputation for combining emotional depth with formal innovation in her work.
Collaborations and Interdisciplinary Work
María Auxiliadora Balladares has engaged in various interdisciplinary projects, collaborating with artists from different fields. She has worked with musicians, such as NTFL, in performances blending poetry and music. She also co-authored URUX: Una correspondencia (2018) with Sebastián Urli, a multimedia project combining poetry and visual elements. Balladares is particularly interested in collaborating with younger artists, appreciating the vitality they bring to creative processes. Her participation in these projects demonstrates her commitment to expanding the boundaries of traditional literary forms, integrating poetry with other artistic expressions.
Academic and Professional Work
Alongside her literary career, Balladares is an established academic, currently serving as a professor and researcher at Universidad San Francisco de Quito. Her academic interests include the study of 20th and 21st-century Latin American poets, as well as critical theory. She is particularly focused on the intersections of LGBTQI+ themes in Ecuadorian and Latin American poetry, and she contributes to the editorial board of the online magazine Sycorax, which covers topics related to art, culture, and politics.
Personal Life and Themes in Writing
Balladares’ work is often informed by her personal experiences, including her exploration of sexuality and relationships. Her openness about her relationships, particularly with women, has shaped much of her poetry, which frequently addresses love, identity, and desire from a political and personal standpoint. Her relationship with nature, particularly the sea, also plays a significant role in her poetry, symbolizing both freedom and emotional depth.
Legacy and Recognition
María Auxiliadora Balladares is recognized as a significant voice in contemporary Ecuadorian literature, both for her innovative poetic style and her contribution to LGBTQI+ discourse in Latin American literature. Her work has been translated into multiple languages, further broadening her reach. Her literary achievements, including the prestigious awards she has garnered, underscore her status as a leading figure in Ecuador’s literary and academic spheres.
Awards and Honors
- Second place, Pablo Palacio Short Story Biennial (for Jamón serrano)
- Second place, Cuenca Festival de la Lira (for Animal, 2017)
- First place, Pichincha Poetry Award (for Guayaquil, 2017)
- Jorge Carrera Andrade Award (for Acantile duerme piloto, 2023)
Timeline of María Auxiliadora Balladares Uquillas
- 1980: Born in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
- 1999: Writes the short story En el sótano, later included in her 2013 collection Las vergüenzas.
- 2000s: Completes her bachelor’s degrees in Sociology and Liberal Arts at Universidad San Francisco de Quito.
- 2013: Publishes her first book, Las vergüenzas, a collection of short stories. The story Jamón serrano wins second place in the 10th Pablo Palacio Short Story Biennial.
- 2015: Publishes the essay Todos creados en un abrir y cerrar de ojos, analyzing the poetry of Blanca Varela.
- 2017: Releases her first poetry collection, Animal, which wins second place in the Cuenca Festival de la Lira.
- 2017: Wins the Pichincha Poetry Award for her poetry collection Guayaquil, later published in 2019.
- 2018: Earns a Ph.D. in Latin American Literature from the University of Pittsburgh with her dissertation on Latin American poets.
- 2019: Guayaquil is published, featuring 22 poems about her experiences in her hometown.
- 2021: Publishes the poetry collection Caballo y arveja.
- 2022: Releases Acantile duerme piloto, a collection of love poems.
- 2023: Wins the prestigious Jorge Carrera Andrade Award for Acantile duerme piloto.
- Present: Balladares continues to teach at Universidad San Francisco de Quito, focusing on Latin American literature and LGBTQI+ themes in poetry. She remains active as a writer and academic, contributing to various publications and projects.
Videos
María Auxiliadora Balladares interview on Cafés con letras, Program 9
Interview of María Auxiliadora Balladares by the students of the University of San Francisco of Quito
María Auxiliadora Balladares reads from her 2017 poetry book Guayaquil
Major Works
- Las vergüenzas (2013) – Short stories
- Todos creados en un abrir y cerrar de ojos (2015) – Essay
- Animal (2017) – Poetry
- Guayaquil (2019) – Poetry
- Caballo y arveja (2021) – Poetry
- Acantile duerme piloto (2022) – Poetry
- A la hora del mar sé la niebla (2023) – Poetry
Social media
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mar%C3%ADa-auxiliadora-balladares-158a4541/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maria.balladares
References
- Wikipedia, “María Auxiliadora Balladares.” Retrieved on September 30, 2024.
- Hablemos Escritoras, “María Auxiliadora Balladares.” Retrieved on September 30, 2024.
- Universidad San Francisco de Quito, “María Auxiliadora Balladares Uquillas – Perfil.” Retrieved on September 30, 2024.
- Monday Lironda, “María Auxiliadora Balladares, entre el mar y la ternura.” Retrieved on September 30, 2024.
- Círculo de Poesía, “Poesía ecuatoriana: María Auxiliadora Balladares.” Retrieved on September 30, 2024.
- Escritores.org, “María Auxiliadora Balladares.” Retrieved on September 30, 2024.
- Quito Informa, “Obras ganadoras de Premios Municipales para las Artes y las Ciencias 2023.” Retrieved on September 30, 2024.
This article was updated on Sept 30, 2024.