A citizen initiative installed a plaque honoring Chilean poet Enrique Lihn on Thursday at his former home on General Salvo 87 in Providencia. The site, now a print shop, was temporarily turned into a museum recreating his most productive years from the late 1970s to 1983.
Neighbor Jorge Rosemary started the project five months ago by contacting the print shop owner and then Andrea Lihn, the poet's daughter, via writer Pedro Lastra. The family and locals managed it independently, without Municipalidad de Providencia support, drawing from plaques at homes of figures like Salvador Allende and Nemesio Antúnez. The March 26 event opened at 1 p.m. with displays including wall plots, Lihn's typewriter, library, and era books. It featured Chilean porotada lunch, live music, poems, and performances, ending at 8 p.m. with the plaque unveiling. Andrea Lihn recalled: “It was a very active time, as he did many things besides poetry. He touched virtually all artistic areas”. She highlighted performances with Alejandro Jodorowsky and Jorge Edwards, drawings, theater plays, and videos in the quiet house. “I have very good memories of gatherings with friends”, she added. Lihn's daughter noted insufficient official recognition for her father's legacy, despite plans like a Paris exhibition.
