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A review by lauren_endnotes
Diario de Oaxaca: A Sketchbook Journal of Two Years in Mexico by Peter Kuper
✍️ DIARIO DE OAXACA: A Sketchbook Journal of Two Years in Mexico by Peter Kuper, 2009 / with new afterword 2017 from PM Press.
Cartoonist / artist Peter Kuper and his partner lived in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca in the mid-2000s, witnessing (and drawing) several Indigenous rights protests and labour strikes, as well as daily life of shopkeepers, farmers, schoolchildren, and street dogs. DIARIO crystallized the mid-2000s, but the new edition I read also includes 2 addendums from the 2010s.
Dual language (Spanish/English) diary entries, art / photo captions, and full color artwork and sketches make up this unique work.
Kuper has a naturalist's eye and loves entomology and botany, so his artwork is full of bugs and plants. Since I just so happen to be really into both bugs and plants myself, I really liked seeing his sketchbook. He blends literary references, political statements, and humor right in with amazing artwork.
Kuper's other graphic novel RUINS (2015) was a particular treat a few years back. It documents the daily life of a fictional couple living in Oaxaca, and visiting other states like Michoacán and Chiapas.
RUINS and DIARIO are great companion pieces - seeing his actual sketchbook, and then what lead to a fictional story heavily based on his experiences.
Cartoonist / artist Peter Kuper and his partner lived in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca in the mid-2000s, witnessing (and drawing) several Indigenous rights protests and labour strikes, as well as daily life of shopkeepers, farmers, schoolchildren, and street dogs. DIARIO crystallized the mid-2000s, but the new edition I read also includes 2 addendums from the 2010s.
Dual language (Spanish/English) diary entries, art / photo captions, and full color artwork and sketches make up this unique work.
Kuper has a naturalist's eye and loves entomology and botany, so his artwork is full of bugs and plants. Since I just so happen to be really into both bugs and plants myself, I really liked seeing his sketchbook. He blends literary references, political statements, and humor right in with amazing artwork.
Kuper's other graphic novel RUINS (2015) was a particular treat a few years back. It documents the daily life of a fictional couple living in Oaxaca, and visiting other states like Michoacán and Chiapas.
RUINS and DIARIO are great companion pieces - seeing his actual sketchbook, and then what lead to a fictional story heavily based on his experiences.