“I’m somewhat of a biographical illustrator,” says Miguel Rep in an interview with PERFIL. This statement holds truth. His distinctive style has captured the likenesses of cultural icons such as Evita, Maradona, Julio Cortázar (in a “Rayuelistic” way), and Messi, among others. Now, he has illustrated a book about Jorge Luis Borges, written by Verónica Abdala. This endeavor aims to demystify a figure deeply ingrained in national literature, as the cultural journalist and the illustrator encourage discussions about an author who is always worth mentioning.
Rep embodies perseverance; he has published his strips in Página/12 since its first issue. Whenever a book featuring his unique “grotesque line” appears, it’s wise to pay attention. Each publication seems like an invitation to explore the interpretations and distortions of reality housed within its pages. His choice of subjects often presents a challenge, focusing on canonical figures like those previously mentioned, along with other iconic personalities treated with originality. He enriches the cultural landscape with his takes on The Beatles, Don Quixote, Peronism, Charles Bukowski, and Dante’s “Divine Comedy,” to name just a few.
Without much fanfare, his illustrated biography of Borges has emerged as part of the Dúo collection, which pairs “a writer and an artist” in a playful format. Borges’s work, often revisited by critics, tends to attract two types of readers: those who are passionate enthusiasts of his themes—ranging from labyrinths to literature, history, daggers, and tigers—and those who feel lost or overwhelmed. The aim to make Borges more accessible and encourage reading also carries a pedagogical responsibility. His own identity has become a prominent topic in popular culture. Borges’s musings on whether he is writing himself or “the other” evoke literary games and philosophical dilemmas that continue to resonate. “Borges’s favorite subject was Borges, and that’s exactly the topic I love to draw—more than labyrinths, tigers, or daggers,” Rep describes.
When asked how the project came about, Rep reveals, “They proposed it to me, and since I had just completed a large mural of his figure in Mar del Plata, I took it on with enthusiasm.”
As for what Borges represents to him, Rep states, “For me, Borges is the pinnacle of the joy of reading. He is the ultimate reader, and one aspires to be a better reader of both Borges and what he read.”
Is drawing Borges challenging? “It’s a joy to illustrate him. I have him in my hand, almost like a sixth finger. I can draw him almost blindly—ethereal, fragile, whimsical, distracted, mischievous, wise, almost like a baby.”
Rep distinguishes the process of creating a book from his daily work: “I sit down to make a book like it’s an island from my daily tasks. I know I will always have that island, either alone or with others.”
On the famous topics Borges explored, Rep shares, “My Borges is the humorous Borges, the writer, the reader.”
Regarding the potential reaction to his book, similar to the mixed responses for “Evita, Nacida para Molestar,” he notes, “I didn’t draw this to provoke. That would be another book. This one is in collaboration with Verónica Abdala. But yes, Jorge Luis Borges was born to stir things up.”
He acknowledges the challenging times we live in. “Times are always difficult, but there is always a moment for laughter. Life consists of both drama and humor.”
Lastly, discussing the power of illustration in eliciting laughter, Rep muses, “I don’t really know what humor is, but I have had my grotesque line from the start. That means I reject the world as it is. My work is about expressionism, paradox, and seeing if I can occasionally create a good drawing.”
Source: https://www.perfil.com/noticias/protagonistas/mi-borges-preferido-es-el-el-humorista-el-escritor-y-el-lector-dice-miguel-rep.phtml
