Power Paola (born Paola Andrea Gaviria Silguero; June 20, 1977)[1] is a Colombian-Ecuadorian cartoonist.[2] She is the author of graphic memoirs Virus Tropical (2011), Por Dentro (2012), Diario (2013), qp (2014), Todo Va a Estar Bien (2015) and Nos vamos (2016).[3][4] Her work deals with themes of sexuality, feminism, family, and personal identity.
Power Paola | |
---|---|
Born | Paola Andrea Gaviria Silguero June 20, 1977 Quito, Ecuador |
Nationality | Colombian, Ecuadorian |
Area(s) | Cartoonist, Writer |
Notable works | Virus Tropical Todo Va a Estar Bien Diario |
She is a member of the international comics collective Chicks on Comics.[5]
Biography
editEarly life
editPaola Gaviria, known by the pen name Power Paola,[2] was born in Quito, Ecuador. During her mother's pregnancy, a doctor insisted that she was not pregnant but was the victim of a "tropical virus."[6] Her family moved to Cali, Colombia when she was 13, and she studied at the Fundación Universitaria de Bellas Artes in Medellin, where she cofounded the art collective Taller 7.[7] She describes herself as a "nomad" and has since lived in Sydney, Paris, San Salvador, and Bogota, though she now lives in Buenos Aires.[8]
Comics
editPower Paola initially worked as painter, then started reading the work of comics artists like Marjane Satrapi and Julie Doucet.[9] She started drawing comics at age 27, to entertain herself and document her life while working in a kitchen in Sydney.[6] She initially self-published her comics on Flickr and as print zines.[10] In 2011, Argentinian publisher Editorial Comun published her memoir Virus Tropical, which tells the story of Paola's childhood growing up as a rebellious daughter in a conservative Colombian family dominated by strong women.[11] The book was met with critical praise and republished in English and French by Random House / Mondadori. Critics have noted her loose drawing style and intimate voice, and her "characters favors caricature over quasi-photorealism."[2] Of Virus Tropical, reviewer said, "Using a strongly expressive naïve style, Paola creates a very personal comic, with a clear feminine voice, that is a standard bearer of the comic of those latitudes." Reviewer Abril Castillo Cabrera compared reading the book to visiting a therapist, writing that Power Paola creates "an atmosphere that we can access, a story with a beginning and a closing, an elaboration of her life and a bridge that tends to the lives of others who read it."[12]
Her work was shown at Fundacion PROA in Buenos Aires as part of the Chicks on Comics exhibition "Long Distance Relationship" in 2017.[13]
Virus Tropical became a movie in 2017.[14][15][16][17]
Bibliography
edit- Virus Tropical (2010) ISBN 9789872457891, OCLC 798340878
- English translation Virus Tropical (2016) ISBN 9781937541231, OCLC 923554440
- Por Dentro (2012) ISBN 9789588568232, OCLC 857585649
- Diario de Power Paola (2013) ISBN 9789872787516, OCLC 883407717
- QP, 2004–2012 (2014) ISBN 9789588568362, OCLC 883125654
- Todo Va a Estar Bien (2015) ISBN 9789588568492, OCLC 913076208
- Nos vamos (2016) ISBN 9789588568577, OCLC 982083695
References
edit- ^ Iannini, Sergio Camacho (14 May 2014). "Power Paola, la historietista que dibuja su vida" [Power Paola, the cartoonist who draws her life]. El Tiempo (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
- ^ a b c Zayas, Iván Pérez (May 2018). "Life Through Graphics: Power Paola's Graphic Novels". Latin American Literature Today. No. 6. Archived from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
- ^ "Power Paola". Goodreads (in Spanish). 31 March 2017. Archived from the original on 28 January 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
- ^ "Update 3: Powerpaola of Virus Tropical Interview · Spring Collection". Kickstarter. Retrieved 2019-02-25.
- ^ "Chicks on comics". chicksoncomics.tumblr.com. Retrieved 2017-03-31.
- ^ a b "Powerpaola: 'Empecé a dibujar historietas para burlarme de mi propia vida'" [Powerpaola: 'I started drawing comics to make fun of my own life']. TN (in Spanish). 11 June 2011. Archived from the original on 24 April 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
- ^ "Power Paola". La Editorial Común (in European Spanish). Archived from the original on 1 April 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
- ^ Lam, Martin Lopez (9 October 2012). "Paola Gaviria, Powerpaola". La Sensación Gráfica. Archived from the original on 1 April 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
- ^ "Entrevista con PowerPaola" [Interview with PowerPaola]. Entre comics (in European Spanish). 17 April 2013. Archived from the original on 1 April 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
- ^ Glidden, Sarah (5 November 2013). "Drawn Interview With Power Paola". sarahglidden.com. Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
- ^ Vilches, Gerardo (18 April 2013). "Virus tropical (Powerpaola)". Entre comics (in European Spanish). Archived from the original on 1 April 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
- ^ Cabrera, Abril Castillo (3 August 2015). "Powerpaola Dibujos nómadas y autobiografía ficticia". Límulus (in European Spanish). Archived from the original on 27 March 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
- ^ "Chicks On Comics - Exhibiciones". Fundación Proa (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
- ^ Young, Deborah (20 February 2018). "'Virus Tropical': Film Review | Berlin 2018". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 11 February 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
- ^ Kiang, Jessica (22 November 2017). "Film Review: 'Virus Tropical'". Variety. Archived from the original on 21 September 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
- ^ Castillo, Monica (13 March 2018). "Power Paola On Turning Her Coming-of-Age Graphic Novel Into an Animated Movie". Remezcla. Archived from the original on 29 May 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
- ^ "Virus Tropical (2017)". IMDb. Archived from the original on 17 February 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2019.