Nilo Cruz identifies five key artistic influences

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Nilo Cruz has identified five specific works of art that serve as meditative and empowering influences on his creative process.

In the realm of visual arts and literature, Cruz cited the photography of Luis González Palma, specifically the cover of ‘Poems of Sorrow’, noting how the subject’s gaze acts as a witness to colonialism. He also highlighted José Saramago’s novel ‘The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reis’ for its philosophical exploration of the boundaries between author and character. In painting, Cruz expressed an affinity for the intimate and dreamy works of Pierre Bonnard, particularly his depictions of Marthe bathing.

Regarding film and music, Cruz named director Andrei Tarkovsky as a major influence, specifically admiring the spiritual journey depicted in ‘Stalker’. He also noted the atmospheric compositions of composer Max Richter as a significant influence.