CIRO ALEGRIA (1961 - 2020)
My brother Ciro is older than me, and he always gave me the impression that he was very old when he was not, it just happens that he is dour, thoughtful and deep, so that he is always beyond, absorbed in his thoughts, in his art, in his reflections quite erudite and unusual. So, being children, he seemed more like a "little adult" than anything else. And now, being adults, although cordial, correct and human, it is still intimidating, because of its sharp reasoning, which appraises any argument and dissects its interlocutor until the philosophical essence of “truth” that he is always looking for is removed. His irreducible intellectual honesty makes that, like Socrates, many people ask for hemlock without having done anything wrong, simply in revenge for challenging the same gods with their knowledge ... I deeply appreciate it, but more importantly, I admire it honestly and affectionately, because it has been and will be, irreducibly rational and yet emotionally artistic and sensitively human.
As a child, Ciro asked for a Christmas gift or for his birthday, the most amazing things: professional crayon set (real artist), really artistic cakes, watercolors and cards, an easel and oils, a violin, a set of electronic instruments that allowed us to investigate (we had a “galena radio” and we listened to stations from all over the world in a Lima locked in a military dictatorship). Finally, he requested a chemical laboratory but not a toy, but with a flask, still, test tubes and other real accessories. I was his helpful laboratory assistant and following his instructions, he crushed the coal with the sulfur to form the powder, or placed the rose petals or the lavender essence in the flask, to give a delicate perfume to our mom, or the one who he watched the droplet that came out of the still and slow, still as if begging. Window cleaner with vinegar base, stinky bombs, hydrogen balloons ... We really play learning. We looked like the exemplification in life of Ausubel Theories.
In addition, as a teenager, Ciro was an excellent poet. A pity that he has never published or saved those beautiful poems full of a classic rhythm, despite not being rhymed. He was also a good draftsman and painter, and little or nothing remains of his works of that stage ... Finally, he played and plays violin, being a member of the Orchestra of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, despite his busy life as Dean of Postgraduate Studies . He is currently Dean for the second time, since he was re-elected. His eight dean years will end in June 2020, but bad memory.
In addition, as a teenager, Ciro was an excellent poet. A pity that he has never published or saved those beautiful poems full of a classic rhythm, despite not being rhymed. He was also a good draftsman and painter, and little or nothing remains of his works of that stage ... Finally, he played and plays violin, being a member of the Orchestra of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, despite his busy life as Dean of Postgraduate Studies . He is currently Dean for the second time, since he was re-elected. His eight dean years will end in June 2020, but bad memory.
Last year (2018) he won the National Trial Prize (Gold Medal of the Copé Award). He has inherited artistic talent and intellectual depth from my father. Gray-haired, skinny, with a penetrating look and an incisive nose, when he looks at you, he watches you, he scrutinizes you, and you know that everything you say can be questioned or refuted almost Cartesianly.
