Exclusive interview with Yael Lopumo: «I am excited about the publication of Lito en Marte with Kaizen Editores»

Yael Lopumo, creator of Lito on Mars

Today in Actualidad Literatura we interviewed Yael lopumo (Buenos Aires, 1989), Argentine illustrator whose great acceptance in social networks has led to Kaizen Editors look at him for the edition of the work Litho on Mars, which will be released soon to the delight of all its followers.

Actualidad Literatura: Good morning Yael. To create the vignettes that are bringing you so much success, you use words and drawings at the same time. Do you feel like a writer and an illustrator in equal parts or does your vocation lean more towards one of the two facets?

Yael Lopumo: Actually I started with phrases that I once heard and made me feel touched at some point, but then I began to make phrases of things that were happening to me, common things that happen to many people, and since I am an illustrator, The combination of art with some poetry, to call it that, was good. I feel more identified by the illustrations anyway.

AL: Your popularity on social media, especially on Instagram is undeniable. Do you feel that it has been a good springboard in order to get published? How do you assess the importance of followers today for new authors to make their way into the world of printed books?

YL: The truth is that the issue of followers is important to me so that it continues to go viral even more and have a greater impact, and based on that, new paths emerge. I think that without them I could not achieve anything that I am doing today and I am very grateful to my followers, and I make it notice when they write to me, I reply one by one ... I was very surprised by the number of followers in just five months, but I think and dream that this goes for more. Today I am focused and very excited to finish the edition of the book with Kaizen Editores, and then perhaps other paths will open up.

Cartoon of Lito on Mars

AL: The following question revolves precisely about Kaizen editors. They have expressed their intention to bet on all those promises that have their own voice on the internet but that need an editorial to suit them to leave their legacy on paper. In fact you will be the first figure in his collection of illustrators. How do you value this initiative and the fact that they have bet so hard on you?

YL: To tell the truth, I value your effort too much, not only in regards to me, but also your passion and dedication that you put into it every day ... I am very grateful and very excited, I am a person of low self-esteem and therefore I was surprised when Javier told me about the edition of LITO EN MARTE's book. I have no way of thanking them, I would have to go to Spain to give them a good hug. He trusted them a lot and in this beautiful project.

AL: You learned to read and draw when you were very young and your parents played a very important role in that early learning. Do you think that today's society is knowing how to promote children's innate talents and abilities? What role do you think families and schools should play in this regard?

YL: I think that drawing is very important, especially when we are children, drawing not only reflects what our hidden self says but also talks about how we feel emotionally, especially the color palettes that we use. Unfortunately, nowadays, families do not give drawing the importance it should have. Perhaps it is for not knowing the world of art and what it implies in us. Today boys and girls are more oriented towards other skills that require the use of a tool such as the Internet, or their talents are very modern and today's parents do not usually understand them and that is why they do not give them their support. The case of youtubers serves as an example, since on many occasions their parents are not able to appreciate the dimension of what their children are doing. I believe that schools, or rather those who work in them, should change the method of study, less hard and more flexible and use new technologies. At least here in Argentina we are quite out of date with regard to education. I believe that private education should not exist. We teach children to differentiate, in that there are privileged places for the least and society and the big media somehow make them see that the private is the best, instead of teaching them equality.

AL: At the age of 18 you began your studies at the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism of Ciudad de la Plata. How has the university education that you were able to acquire there influenced your work?

YL: Uff .. a lot. Especially in visual communication, where I taught. There I learned a lot about the use of color, the lines, the contrasts we use and why, the way we use color ... I think the faculty taught me most of what I understand by Art, and I appreciate that. Much to Diego Cremaschi, current professor of 3 subjects at the Faculty.

AL: The character that stars in your cartoons is called Lito and you define him as a chattering dog. You, Yael Lopumo, are called Yaelito in your close circle. To what extent is Lito a transcript of Yael himself? What traits of his do you recognize as your own? Is there something charlatan about you?

YL: (smiles). I was discovered, I am too charlatan, to the point where you want to mute my voice. I really like to talk, but not only about love like Lito does, but also about other subjects such as architecture, philosophy and art. Not long ago I went through a depressive stage, I think Lito is at some point and identifies what happens at that moment.

AL: It is precisely Lito's reflections that have helped many people who felt identified as they were going through similar moments. I suppose that is something that comforts you and that you feel proud of and that it will be your own followers who will send you that positive feedback, in addition to their thanks. Do you remember any specific case that I have marked you in which your vignettes and the messages they contain have served to make other people feel better?

YL: There were many cases, many messages came to me from couples who told me things like "thanks to your messages we were able to fix our problems, thanks to your drawing I understood what was happening to me ...". The last I remember was a girl. He told me that he went to eat at a restaurant called "Voltereta" located in Valencia, and he met his partner, from whom he was about to separate because he was going on a trip for a new job. When they sat down they received the letter with my vignettes, since that restaurant publishes in them on a monthly basis the work of some invited artists, and I touch them an image that said "And now what do I do with this desire to kiss you?" where is lito looking at a plane that leaves. After that and looking at others, the groom decided to stay. From that day on I became aware of what I can do to people. The truth was I was very surprised, and more now that I remember it again.

Illustration of Lito on Mars

AL: Some of the most recognizable and characteristic features of your painting technique are simple lines and minimalism. Is it a strategy to leave more mental space for the concepts and reflections that are developed in the vignettes?

YL: There was a German architect named Mies who said "Less is more." He was referring to the fact that the more elements that appear on a plane, the less beautiful it is, the fewer that appear, the more beautiful it is. We can apply that in all aspects, whether they are artistic or not.

AL: The theme of the cartoons often revolves around the absence of loved ones, heartbreak or nostalgia. To what extent have the negative experiences you have lived more influenced your work than the positive ones? Do you take creation as a kind of alchemy capable of extracting gold from less noble sentimental materials?

YL: I think that's the point of why so many followers. We all go through difficult times in our lives. And that's where people feel identified. For the lack of love, the deception the lack of someone. My depression was the reason why I focused my work on these types of issues.

AL: We have come to see Lito quoting Cortázar. What other literati have influenced you? And illustrators?

YL: Julio is my great reference, but also others like Pablo Neruda or Alfonsina Storni. I think they are the best at what I like. Illustrators, the truth, I am more of a painter, I do oil works, I am a fan of Vincent Van Gogh. I'm even getting his face tattooed. He was not from the world of cartoons, until Lito was born. There is something that nobody knows, lito was called MILU and he was born on Facebook long before great winemakers like Nico Illustrations were born.

AL: The world of dreams seems to have a prominent and recurring role in your cartoons, either through textual references in the sentences or because of the dreamlike nature of the landscapes you paint. Do you extract material for your work from your own dreams? Have any of your vignettes been literally dreamed of before being put on paper?

YL: Several. Exactly the last one I uploaded. I dreamed of my grandfather, whom I lost and he was one of the most difficult people to accept that he was not on earth. I dreamed of that planet Saturn full of red, blue, fuchsia colors, and I couldn't help but paint it. But several vignettes I dreamed of and not only that, but also paintings.

Cartoon of Lito on Mars, by Yael Lopumo

AL: Now that you talk about planets, the question is obliged. The Instagram account where you post your creations is called Lito en Marte, and it will be the one that gives the title to the book that we will be able to read soon. In one of the vignettes Lito simply says "I love loving you." Is it a play on words that could explain the meaning of the account name and the title of the book? (I love loving You)

YL: It's a phrase I wrote to my girlfriend, and I really liked it too much, it shows simplicity. Do you know where it comes from? I asked myself "is there something stronger than saying" I love you "?" And I thought about that answer. I love loving You. I love the planets, especially the mystery of the universe, the colors of the cosmos ...

AL: In your Instagram account you define your style as "art with a mixture of love" and the truth is that that seems to be the recipe for your success. But as you know, in any good recipe the quantities as well as the proportions greatly influence. Would you dare to express the mixture in percentages? How much art and how much love in the great cartoons you make?

YL: Love is everywhere, in all the drawings, in all the sentences and writings, in all the comments. Even in color. The colors also, generate tenderness, generate tranquility. Perhaps art has some love, that's why the mixture, art is the colors and love the sayings.

AL: Finally, we want to thank you for the opportunity you have given us and that has allowed us to get to know you more thoroughly. We would like you to address our readers directly to end this interview with a short message for them.

YL: Thank you. I am very happy for all this that I am going through, very happy to have received my first interview, where I felt comfortable saying what I thought and feeling conformity on the other side. And I want to tell readers to always go for everything, that it is not one day less, but one more day to try to fulfill your dreams. A big hug from Argentina!


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