Euskaraz irakurri: Ekaitz Goikoetxea: “Aphorisms ekaitzaldi bat da, trumoi txikiak lehertu behar lizkiguke geure baitan”
The Spanish Royal Academy of Language defines the aphorism as a “mmaxim or sentence that is proposed as a guideline in some science or art”, and Ekaitz Goikoetxea Asurabarrena (Beasain, 1980) has added in the book “Balio erantzia” (Balea Zuria, 2022) several suggestive, witty and surprising samples of this literary exercise that aspires to say a lot with the fewest possible number of elements.
Goikoetxea carries out this task by twisting the tongue (“ariketa beti da harik eta”, “gosea ez da pasatzen, geratu egiten da”, “hor dena kaosa da”) while, in turn, correcting deviant ideas that day by day day has twisted before our apathy (“behar bada / beharbada soberan”, “guztiona bada, guztia ona ez duen seinale”, “iragana ar(r)aroa izan da”). If the aphorism is a phrase presented as a norm, in this case Goikoetxea also uses them to overthrow some norms that survive in our heads.
We have spoken with the author about the book.
What are the limits of the aphorism? What did each of those included in the book have to give you to pass the sieve?
The limit of the aphorism is the word. The territory of the aphorism is formed between silence and the word. And it is that silence is so beautiful, so suggestive, it has such a powerful meaning, that the words we use to break it should, at least, be at its height.
For this, aphorisms must be accurate and measured. And that has been my endeavor in the book “Balio erantzia”: to twist language and thought to the limit around themes that can be universal (life-death, time, existence, identity, language, silence …), and reveal my truths and my edges, and put the word into play and have fun with it; play and play a little.
By definition, aphorisms establish rules, but don’t the aphorisms of “Balio erantzia” precisely put into question some established orders? How do the roundness of aphorisms and the ability to question literature combine?
It is true that most of the time aphorisms tend to be resounding statements, blunt sentences. Most of my aphorisms are too, but they are mine, my truths, which many times will coincide with those of the receiver and many others will clash with them. And it is that the truth has its margins, and the roundness has its edges.
We will identify ourselves with some aphorisms, and often we will adopt them as mottos of our thoughts and beliefs. However, there will also be aphorisms that will stimulate and provoke us, and that is also very nice, because it is nothing more than the result of a reflection provoked by a reading that has disturbed you, that has angered you.
The aphorism is a storm in which lightning should stimulate all the senses, apart from sight, and immediately unleash small thunderclaps within us. If it doesn’t trigger all this, it will perhaps be a nice phrase, a play on words, perhaps an occurrence, but in no case an aphorism.
Ekaitz Goikoetxea
“The maximum of the aphorisms is to tend to the minimum”, you affirm in the book. How much has been erased during the writing process?
It has been continuous and incessant. I have let very few sentences get from my head to the paper; many seemed too long to me, many others too flat. And it is true that when you want to reduce everything to silence, four words are too many. I have not stopped until I have found the order that gave the greatest expressive force to the words that best expressed what I wanted to say.
When did you start to realize that you had enough aphorisms to publish a book? How many have been left out and why?
It has been something involuntary and inadvertent. For a long time I had been sketching aphorisms in a notebook, little by little and without any specific frequency. But about three years ago, when I realized that I already had a few that filled me up and dealt with different topics, I decided to resume this work with more perseverance and eagerness, until I managed to write enough to write a book.
Finally, those who are in it have reached the book, but enough have been left out to fill two other books, either because they dealt with topics similar to others, they were too repetitive, or we believed that they did not amount to aphorisms.
We have wanted to publish the best possible book with the best possible aphorisms. And that has generated that, for one reason or another, many good aphorisms were left out.
For whom is the book written or are the aphorisms written?
The book is a consequence. I was enjoying writing aphorisms, and the idea for the book began to take shape in my head when I realized that others might as well enjoy it.
Therefore, I would say that the aphorisms are written mostly for myself. Another thing is who can read and enjoy them.
The book was published ten months ago, and it is having a great reception among readers of all kinds. There are many people who are reading the book on their own; reading it and rereading it, since many people have told me that they return to it in search of some specific aphorism, which is a book that remains present for a long time on the nightstand.
I know that you are also reading it and working on some euskaltegis, since the aphorisms offer a great opportunity to chat, debate or work on the conversation. Young people aged 14-16 are also working on it. And enjoying it.
The aphorism seems to be a genre that is not read and not sold in the Basque Country. Well, “Balio erantzia” has reached its third edition in ten months. We are very happy and very grateful.
Excuse me, but brevity often merges and is confused with shortness. Some sublimate it and others demonize it: the zascas, the 280-character discussions in Twitter… Why did you choose the short format?
I have opted for brevity because I don’t know how to write in longer formats. Almost since I learned to write, I have always used expressions that allow me to control the ending and the development of the text, especially in bertsos, and, when I have tried, I have barely managed to write something decent beyond the two pages. I feel most comfortable and comfortable writing bertsos, aphorisms and columns, and it is also where my writing is most effective.
Writing in a short format does not mean that it is done hastily and lightly. I can spend two weeks perfecting a four-word aphorism, or two months creating a set of eight bertsos.
It is true that aphorisms are read quickly, but good aphorisms leave an echo and a trail that can last several days. They require little time, and you can enjoy it for a long time. What else do you want! A society, an education and a house that wants to put thought, reflection, critical sense, philosophy, human development and language at the center must enjoy aphorisms and delve into them.
Juan Kruz Igerabide in Basque, Karmelo Iribarren from San Sebastian in Spanish… What writers could satisfy their hunger for aphorisms with “Balio erantzia”?
In Euskal Herria itself, there are phenomenal aphorists. In addition to Juan Kruz Igerabide and Karmelo Iribarren, I also love Karlos Linazasoro and Ana Urkiza, or Ramón Eder and Aitor Francos.
Ekaitz Goikoetxea
Do you have any other creative project on your hands?
Right now, I am offering people to people the poetic-musical show “Maitatzeari” together with the group Popatik, and “GenEroa” and “GenErorAntz” together with the people of Kimua Dantza Kolektiboa.
I am really enjoying working on different expressions, sharing reflections on gender and the fact of love, and, at least this year, I would like to focus my creativity and my time on these two projects.
I would like to continue writing. I still don’t know what or how, and I’m not in a hurry to know or need to.
Will I publish (or be published) what I write? I will see it, and you will see it.
Source: Eitb
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
