There are several types of art in our society, that emerged at different times and are designed to represent diverse internal expressions of the human being. Dance, music, poetry, architecture, and even gastronomy are just some of the examples we can think of. Art can be used to show feelings, represent reality, or say the most difficult words more simply. Summing up, art is the breath found in a too-hostile world. Art can also be used as a symbol of struggle, protest, or criticism – and here comes the most political art model: comic strips.
According to several historians of the comic book genre, December 12, 1897, marks the birth of the first comic strip published in a newspaper. Katzenjammer Kids, written by Rudolph Dirks, premiered in the American periodical New York Journal. Nowadays, we are all marked by the classics of Portuguese and school history tests, which always count on the presence of Mafalda, Hagar, the Horrible, or Calvin and Haroldo. Comics can be used for laughing, reflecting, or learning about the world we live in. All these sensations are easily found in the light and touching strips of Liniers, the cartoonist who has gained visibility throughout the American continent.
Liniers: talent in drawing
Ricardo Siri Liniers was born on November 15th, 1973, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He started his work with comics making fanzines, and soon he started drawing for professional media, such as Lugares, ¡Suélteme!, Hecho en Buenos Aires, Calles, Zona de Obras, Consecuencias, ¡Qué Suerte!, Olho Mágico, 9-11 Artists Respond, Comix 2000 and other works. Despite being neighbors, the cultures of Brazil and Argentina are not always similar, but the language barrier and the ill will towards each other have been overcome by the comic artist, who owes his fame to the series of strips that he has published daily since 2002 in the Argentine newspaper “La Nación”. The project was called “Macanudo” – a word that, in Spanish, means “magnificent”, and “nice”.
Liniers has published over 20 books; many of them in several countries, such as Spain, the USA, Brazil, Peru, Canada, Italy, France, Czech Republic, among others. In 2011, the writer founded Editorial Comum, a publishing house dedicated to releasing graphic novels by different writers and artists, many nationally and internationally. Today he has more than 30 books published and is a phenomenon in Argentina. The artist has also held numerous exhibitions in his home country, in addition to Brazil and the United States – including being responsible for the 91st anniversary commemorative cover of the renowned The New Yorker.
Macanudo: finding the bright side even where there isn’t
In his comics, Ricardo addresses several themes, such as everyday life, human relationships, and love. He also criticizes politics, the media, and consumerism and addresses other social issues. The author makes it clear that he is inspired by other comics, such as Mafalda, by the Argentinian artist Quino – who even received a tribute from Liniers when he died. In it, Mafalda appears to be comforted by Enriqueta, one of Ricardo’s main characters. He also celebrated Quino´s birthday:
In “Macanudo’s” strips, there is no main character, and his varied figures allow him to approach different types of humor. Some of his stories, according to the author himself, don’t make much sense. His drawings work as a kind of personal diary, where he portrays all his thoughts, tastes, and dreams. In addition to Enriqueta, Liniers uses characters such as the cat Fellini, the imaginary monster Olga, the young Martinzito, penguins, elves, and even an olive to convey his vision of the world to thousands of people. A vision that, according to him, needs to be positive. “It’s not that I’m an optimist, but I have to be,” he says. “I write in a journal, so someone can open it daily and think it’s all shit. The morning’s load of pessimism is sadistic. We comic books have to be a relief.” For him, “Macanudo” is that.
Some Liniers strips are just for fun or entertainment, but we notice a critical and reflective side in some of his stories. Between jokes and memories, the artist assumes that his personality is not always what we see in his comic strip – which is why not all of them are funny. “I don’t know why comic artists always need to make people laugh,” he says. “If I can tell a story, I’m already happy. Even because I’m not the same person every day, I have good times and bad times”. Humor seems to continue to be, however, its beacon. And your own life serves as an inspiration on bad days.
The comic strips that started at the beginning of the 21st century published in “La Nación” today are a collection of books, the most recent being the fifteenth edition. With a subtle trait, delicate colors, and a lot of charisma, “Macanudo” is one of the art forms we should always be grateful for the privilege of having access to. Check out some of Liniers’ work:
Lorena Lindenberg edited the article above. Liked this type of content? Check out Her Campus Casper Líbero for more!