Book cover design,
for Gabriel García Márquez
Book Cover Design – Memories of My Melancholy Whores by Gabriel García Márquez
This cover reimagines Márquez’s novella through a visual dialogue with Hieronymus Bosch’s The Garden of Earthly Delights. I drew on the painting’s exploration of desire and consequence to mirror the novel’s themes of aging, memory and redemption. The asterisk (*) serves as a central symbol—like a footnote to the soul—highlighting the layered metaphors and quiet reflections that shape the protagonist’s emotional journey. Designed to feel both timeless and intimate, the composition blends medieval iconography with modern symbolism to evoke the introspective weight of the story.
Role:
Art direction,,
Creative direction,
Print,
graphic design,
Why i chose the [ * ] symbol?
I decided to use asterisk (*) to symbolize the book’s exploration of metaphors, memories, and reflections. Just as an asterisk provides additional information or clarifies meaning, it represents the layers of hidden or overlooked memories that shape the protagonist’s emotional journey. The novel is filled with complex metaphors and fragmented recollections and the symbol draws attention to these deeper, often unspoken, truths that define the story.
Also because I incorporate details from the painting as metaphors for the book's themes. Each element drawn from the artwork reflects key aspects of the narrative, deepening the connection between the visual and conceptual layers of the story.
Creative approach:
Inspired by the artwork, I chose to reflect the story in a medieval context. I selected a detail from the painting that best aligned with my thoughts and transformed it into a separate, standalone piece. In this new work, I incorporated the symbol "*," aiming for it to appear both organic and integral to the composition. I wanted the symbol to feel like a natural extension of the painting itself—its largest and most significant element, seamlessly blending with the overall imagery.
Copyright ️️© Irinka Agurashvili