Miguel Augusto Egas Miranda (Manta, November 24, 1895 – Guayaquil, April 5, 1988), better known by his pen name Hugo Mayo, was an Ecuadorian avant-garde poet and a key figure in 20th-century Latin American literature. Described in the Princeton Encyclopedia of Poetry and Poetics as “one of the most influential figures of the 20th century,” Mayo embraced movements like Dadaism, Ultraism, and Creacionismo, challenging conventional poetic forms. Although he wrote most of his poetry while living in Guayaquil, much of it was published outside of Ecuador, leading to greater recognition in countries like Argentina and Peru, where he was regarded as one of the best poets of his time. His most famous work, El zaguán de aluminio (1982), was reconstructed from memory after the original manuscript was lost in 1922, marking a significant moment in his literary legacy.
Early Life and Education
Hugo Mayo, born Miguel Augusto Egas Miranda on November 24, 1895, in Manta, Ecuador, was a prominent avant-garde poet and a key figure in shaping Ecuador’s literary vanguard. He was the older brother of José María Egas, a poet whose Plegaria Lírica is frequently included in lists of the 100 best poems in the Spanish language. Mayo’s work arose in an Ecuadorian literary landscape still heavily influenced by Romanticism and Modernism, movements that were slow to fade. The avant-garde movement in Ecuador, spearheaded by figures like Mayo, Pablo Palacio, and Humberto Salvador, marked a radical departure from these older traditions.
Mayo moved to Guayaquil in 1908, where he lived for most of his life and created the bulk of his work. He attended the Colegio Vicente Rocafuerte for his secondary education and briefly studied law before abandoning his studies to pursue poetry full-time. His early exposure to revolutionary events, particularly the 1895 Liberal Revolution and the violent death of General Eloy Alfaro, had a lasting impact on his worldview and artistic approach.
Literary Career
Hugo Mayo’s literary journey began in the 1910s, with his first published poems appearing in various Ecuadorian cultural magazines. While the avant-garde movement did not have widespread support in Ecuador at the time, due in part to the country’s literary traditions still clinging to modernist and romantic sensibilities, Mayo stood out as a key avant-garde figure. He rejected conventional literary forms and embraced radical experimentation, drawing on influences from Dadaism, Ultraism, and Creacionismo.
His works focused on breaking traditional syntax and semantics, often delving into absurdity and anti-poetic elements. This earned him a reputation as an irreverent and avant-garde poet, whose ideas clashed with the literary establishment of his country. Despite this, Mayo gained recognition abroad, particularly in countries like Argentina and Peru, where his works were better appreciated.
Mayo adopted his pseudonym in 1921, combining “Hugo” in admiration of French writer Victor Hugo and “Mayo” after the month of spring in Europe. That same year, he founded the literary magazine Singulus, and in 1924, he established Motocicleta, a significant avant-garde publication in Ecuador. His work, however, was met with severe criticism in Ecuador, to the point where some called for his institutionalization due to the unconventional nature of his poetry. Internationally, Mayo’s contributions were appreciated, and his works appeared in renowned magazines like Amauta, Cervantes, and Grecia, often aligning him with figures like Vicente Huidobro and Jorge Luis Borges.
Major Works
Hugo Mayo’s most famous work, El zaguán de aluminio (The Aluminum Hallway), is a cornerstone of his literary legacy. Originally written in 1921, the only manuscript was lost or possibly stolen, preventing its publication at the time. It wasn’t until 1982, more than six decades later, that the book was finally released. In his introduction to the published version, Mayo acknowledged that he had to rewrite the poems from memory, saying, “The original version of El zaguán de aluminio was lost long ago. What you’ll find here is what I remember most from those poems. If any Hypocritical reader still has a copy of the old verses, I ask for forgiveness for any discrepancies—this is a matter of memory, time, and fate.”
His other major works include El regreso (1973), Poemas de Hugo Mayo (1976), Chamarasca (1984), and the posthumous El puño en alto (1992). His poetry is characterized by a rejection of conventional forms, which placed him firmly within Ecuador’s avant-garde movement and earned him a place in international anthologies of Latin American avant-garde literature.
Influence and Recognition
Although Hugo Mayo faced considerable opposition and obscurity in Ecuador for much of his life, his avant-garde approach earned him a loyal following abroad and later within his own country. In 1970, Mayo was awarded a national decoration for his contributions to Ecuadorian literature. His poetry, once derided as nonsensical and erratic, was eventually appreciated by critics for its rebellious nature, with younger generations of poets drawing inspiration from his innovative techniques. His work was eventually included in international collections, solidifying his role as a pioneering avant-garde poet.
Legacy
Hugo Mayo is regarded as one of Ecuador’s foremost avant-garde poets, and his work helped shape the trajectory of 20th-century Latin American poetry. Despite the initial resistance in Ecuador, his poetry is now recognized as a major contribution to the country’s literary history. Mayo’s influence extended beyond Ecuador, and he engaged in correspondences with international literary figures such as Vicente Huidobro, Pablo Neruda, and César Vallejo. His work, while underappreciated during much of his lifetime, has since been acknowledged as a critical force in modern Ecuadorian poetry.
Timeline
1895 – Early Life
- November 24, 1895: Hugo Mayo is born as Miguel Augusto Egas Miranda in Manta, Ecuador.
1908 – Move to Guayaquil
- 1908: Mayo moves to Guayaquil with his family, where he would spend most of his life and develop his literary career.
Education and Early Inspiration
- Early 1910s: He attends Colegio Vicente Rocafuerte in Guayaquil for secondary education.
- He begins studying law briefly but abandons his legal studies to focus on poetry.
- Mayo is deeply influenced by the 1895 Liberal Revolution and the violent death of General Eloy Alfaro, which shape his worldview and artistic expression.
1910s – Early Literary Work
- 1910s: Hugo Mayo starts writing poetry and contributes to Ecuadorian cultural magazines. His work remains little known in his homeland at this time.
1921 – Pseudonym and First Magazine
- 1921: He adopts the pen name “Hugo Mayo” (combining “Hugo” from his admiration of Victor Hugo and “Mayo” representing the month of spring in Europe).
- He founds the avant-garde literary magazine Singulus, marking the beginning of his formal literary career.
1922 – El zaguán de aluminio
- 1922: Mayo completes the manuscript for his most famous work, El zaguán de aluminio. However, the manuscript is lost or stolen before publication, delaying its release for six decades.
1924 – Founding Motocicleta
- 1924: Mayo launches Motocicleta, an avant-garde literary magazine in Guayaquil that showcases experimental poetry. The magazine features contributions from international avant-garde figures, including Vicente Huidobro and Pablo Neruda.
1920s – International Recognition
- 1920s: Mayo gains recognition outside of Ecuador, especially in Argentina and Peru, where his work is appreciated more than in his home country. His contributions appear in major avant-garde magazines like Amauta, Cervantes, and Grecia.
1930s-1950s – Life as a Civil Servant
- 1930s-1950s: Mayo works as a civil servant at the tax office in Guayaquil while continuing to write poetry. His literary work remains underappreciated in Ecuador during these decades.
1970 – National Recognition
- 1970: Mayo is awarded a national decoration for his contributions to Ecuadorian literature, marking the beginning of broader recognition in his home country.
1973 – First Published Book
- 1973: At the age of 78, Mayo publishes his first book of poetry, El regreso, with the support of the Casa de la Cultura Ecuatoriana, marking the start of his recognition by literary circles in Ecuador.
1976 – Poemas de Hugo Mayo
- 1976: Mayo publishes Poemas de Hugo Mayo, his second collection of poems, which is widely regarded as a milestone in his literary career. The work includes a critical study by Rodrigo Pesántez Rodas, helping secure his legacy.
1982 – El zaguán de aluminio
- 1982: Sixty years after its original manuscript was lost, El zaguán de aluminio is finally published. In the introduction, Mayo writes that the work is a reconstruction from memory. The book becomes a cornerstone of his literary legacy.
1984 – Chamarasca
- 1984: Mayo publishes Chamarasca, another major work, further cementing his place as a key figure in Ecuador’s literary avant-garde.
1988 – Death
- April 5, 1988: Hugo Mayo dies in Guayaquil at the age of 92. He spends the last years of his life in relative obscurity, though his influence on younger generations of poets is already taking shape.
1992 – Posthumous Publication
- 1992: His final collection, El puño en alto: Poesía revolucionaria, is published posthumously, completing his body of work and affirming his role as one of Ecuador’s leading avant-garde poets.
Legacy
- 1990s-Present: Hugo Mayo’s work is continuously reappraised and included in anthologies of Latin American avant-garde poetry. He is now considered one of the most important Ecuadorian poets of the 20th century, and his work is studied both in Ecuador and internationally.
Works
- El regreso (1973)
- Poemas de Hugo Mayo (1976)
- El zaguán de aluminio (1982)
- Chamarasca (1984)
- Colección la rosa de papel (1986)
References
- Wikipedia, “Hugo Mayo.” Retrieved on October 11, 2024. Click to view.
- mcnbiografias.com, “Hugo Mayo.” Retrieved on October 11, 2024. Click to view.
- Adrián Flores – escritor, “Características de la literatura de la vanguardia ecuatoriana.” Retrieved on October 11, 2024. Click to view.
- bichitoeditores.com, “Hugo Mayo, un poeta en motocicleta.” Retrieved on October 11, 2024. Click to view.
- Literatura Ecuatoriana, “Hugo Mayo.” Retrieved on October 11, 2024. Click to view.
- rodolfoperezpimentel.com, “Mayo, Hugo.” Retrieved on October 11, 2024. Click to view.