SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 23rd June (EUROPA PRESS) –
Eduardo Serradilla, responsible for international projects at the Canarian Cinema + Comics Foundation, has been deeply involved in promoting the work of Spanish authors beyond national borders and simultaneously introducing international creators to Spain.
The concept emerged from the recent edition of the festival in the French town of Angoulême, one of the most significant globally, which Serradilla attended. From the insights gained, he concluded that creating a working group comprising key individuals and institutions worldwide was the most viable approach.
This group already encompasses figures such as the head of Belgium’s comic sector, the documentation, research, and development centre at the comic and image museum in Angoulême, the director of the comic society and director of the Swedish graphic archive, and the leader of the graphic language, comics, and newspaper strips department at Columbia University in New York.
Serradilla was then tasked with coordinating the meetings and documenting the proposals being discussed. “The primary objective and motivation of this working group is to establish an open forum for sharing diverse professional experiences and proposals from each member, aiming to coordinate initiatives not restricted to specific geographical locations but rather adaptable to various settings and languages,” stated the Foundation’s representative.
An example of this collaboration is ensuring that the fourth edition of the Iustradoras & Ilustradas exhibition, featuring works by female creators, is showcased at various international events, boosting visibility for these artists. Moreover, during the recent Tenerife Comic Fair, a presentation was made by island authors known as Kronikas La Laguna at a professional meeting of Franco-Belgian editors.
ESTABLISHING A CONFEDERATION.
Foundation member Patricio Ducha discusses an emerging strategy to create what he terms “a form of confederation” to promote exchanges, joint exhibitions, and bilateral collaborations, with the only missing piece being a name.
The exchange commenced amidst the pandemic in 2020, facilitating knowledge-sharing among graphic authors, scriptwriters, editors, and museum curators from countries such as France, Italy, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Canada, the United States, Chile, Argentina, and Cuba.
Following the Angoulême meeting, ties were established with the graphic arts scene in the Republic of the Philippines, Taiwan, the Chilean ministry responsible for dissemination, and the comics office director of Quebec, Canada. This resulted in organizing an exhibition dedicated to a Chilean manga publisher, Wolu Ediciones, for La Laguna es Cómics, alongside hosting a Chilean author and editor as a special guest at the Foundation’s recent International Congress.
Initial discussions with the Quebec BD representatives led to four virtual meetings with Canadian graphic authors, all part of the group present at the Angoulême meeting in January.
“I acknowledge that there is still much to be done, but the Foundation’s work is akin to a marathon, in the literal sense of the term,” reflects the comics expert. “The focus now is to continue cultivating the established connections to develop initiatives that further advance the principles the Foundation stands for in promoting and studying narrative through visuals,” he added.
PROMOTING FINNISH AND CANADIAN CREATIVES
Currently, the Tenerife resident residing in Iceland is liaising with the Swedish Comics Society, specifically Quebec’s official BD and similar institutions, to promote Swedish, Finnish, and Canadian creators. This effort is not new for Serradilla, having successfully executed it during previous events such as Comics Day in Spain or for La Laguna, albeit predominantly in a virtual format.
Since 2021, he has been showcasing the work of Finnish authors in Spain and vice versa. This endeavour led to an invitation to the 2021 Helsinki festival, facilitated by the support of the Spanish Embassy in Finland and the Foundation’s cooperation. The objective was met, enabling cartoonists and publishers to explore each other’s works, exchange views and experiences, and explore collaborative opportunities.
Another avenue being explored is maintaining connections with authors from Chile, Argentina, France, or Taiwan, stemming from their participation in the latest Angoulême festival. Serradilla notes that this gathering of comic enthusiasts has broadened horizons significantly, already resulting in organising an exhibition dedicated to the Chilean publisher, Wolu Ediciones.
The initiative’s core aim is to showcase the diverse works from other countries, transcending language barriers, influences, and individual creator backgrounds, which are often unique and distinct. This endeavour was supported by the Spanish Embassy in Finland and the Foundation, enabling Spanish authors and publishers’ works to gain visibility in this Nordic country.
This scenario presents numerous possibilities, with Serradilla expressing a keen interest in finding common ground to continue spotlighting the works of Spanish and international creators across multiple platforms. Additionally, he aims to leverage various Foundation events and attended forums to promote the ninth art, encompassing both historical contributions and contemporary creations.
In 2021, Serradilla took on the role of curator for the Helsinki Show, the initial concept that they seek to develop further. The virtual exhibition aimed to provide glimpses of the works by diverse Spanish authors invited to the event, following an invitation extended by the Finnish Comics Society to Spain.
“I understand that condensing a professional career into just a few images is a daunting task in most cases, but I hoped that this venture would visually depict the virtual meetings held with authors, forming the foundation of our proposal,” he conveyed.
The exhibition also included a brief bibliography for those seeking a more in-depth understanding of the authors’ works, predominantly published in the Spanish language. Participants included Lorena Azpiri’s colour works, Fernando Dagnino’s Blade Runner-inspired creations, Pablo Dura and Carles Esquembre’s reflections on the Spanish civil war, and Pablo Dura’s superhero-themed works.
