Holding Gusti’s Hand

Abstract

Holding Gusti’s Hand Ana Emilia Silva (bio) Translated by Stella M. Rizzo Going through the works of Argentine artist Gusti (Gustavo Ariel Rosemffet) is a transforming experience. Each of his books bears his mark and at the same time presents something new; the reader discovers a different path to follow. Like the waters of a flowing river, there is no repetition, but his essence navigates between pages and proposes other ways of seeing things. The drawings are so eloquent that we stop and take in the amazing landscape as one who explores the world. Today we will stop at four of his works: La mosca (The Fly; 2005); Animales escondidos (Hidden Animals; 2017); Mallko y papá (Mallko and Dad; 2014); and No somos angelitos (We Are Not Little Angels; 2017). Click for larger view View full resolution The Fly—La mosca In this picturebook, Gusti plays with scatological humor. He tells the story of an atypical fly that decides to take a delicious bath on a perfect day. The omniscient narrator shows, step by step, through a synergy of text and image, how the initial situation takes unexpected twists. At the end of the picturebook, the protagonist is very annoyed and promises never to bathe again. The book cover features the protagonist as well as a phrase in red that warns the reader that something disturbing is going to happen: “A perfect day can turn into a nightmare.” Decorative patterns scattered with little flies reaffirm the leading role of the fly and plunge us into a special world that appears on the back cover: a perfect day to take a bath. What seemed to be ideal gets more and more complicated, and the use of black color is a sign of danger. Shadow is imposed on bright sky blue. The story is told by means of brief texts entwined with illustrations. Images get closer by zooming. Simple illustrations, the use of collage, and cut-out cardboard figures painted in tempera in a not very neat way enable the reader to follow the adventures of the main character. Varied materials, such as cloth, paper, wood, and screws, give movement and color and increase tactile sensations. Click for larger view View full resolution Hidden Animals—Animales Escondidos This picturebook explores the varied world of the animal kingdom. Each of its pages shows different animals in wide community. Two voices make up the story: poems by Lola Casas playfully dialogue with the colorful illustrated world of Gusti. The Casas-Gusti duo has also created ¿Feos y feas? (Ugly and Ugly?), another unforget-table picturebook that shows a very peculiar parade of faces. From the very book cover a wide variety of animals, colors, and shapes make up an intricate diversity. The reader is then invited to find the [End Page 58] character suggested by the verses and the drawings in a guessing game. The text is hidden between legs or somewhere on the sheet, never in the same spot. This coming and going of the gaze creates an atmosphere of expectation and opens out to a world of search and fun. Click for larger view View full resolution Mallko and Dad—Mallko y Papá Both this book and No somos angelitos (We Are Not Little Angels) tackle a subject closely related to Gusti’s life. In Mallko and Dad, the author/illustrator draws a path in which personal life and artistic work merge. By means of texts similar to those written in a notepad, he organizes a daily parade of moods ranging from grief to acceptance. Eventually, he takes the big leap: his love for his child with Down syndrome. In his journey toward both his inner self and those who are close to him, Gusti learns to see inside himself while also learning from his older son, Théo, and from Anne, his wife. The evolution of this parallel process goes beyond the individual and testimonial value; it impinges on the outside as it also reflects the experiences of many families in similar situations. The picturebook offers multiple reading possibilities, from the deepening of a suffering subjectivity to the growth implied in reaching absolute love without hesitation. As it contains...