Comic-Con 2024: Chile participated in panel on indigenous peoples and graphic novels
For seven consecutive years, ProChile has coordinated a delegation to participate in the main comic strip and graphic narrative event in the United States.
Chile once again had a significant presence at the San Diego Comic-Con, one of the most important events in the world in the realm of comic books and graphic storytelling, which was held from July 25 to 28, 2024 in the United States.
"This popular American convention, which brings together the world of comics with pop culture -also including television and film productions- featured a Chilean delegation composed of six prominent editors and authors, thanks to a trade mission coordinated by ProChile, thus marking the seventh consecutive year of Chilean presence at this event."
Cultural Wealth and Diversity.
The delegation was composed of distinguished representatives of graphic cartoons such as Carlos Reyes (scriptwriter and researcher, co-author of "We the Selku2019nam" with Rodrigo Elgeta); Melina Rapimán (artist, illustrator, scriptwriter, and editor, who has conducted research on the Chilean cartoon "Mawa"); Francisco Inostroza (cartoonist, scriptwriter, editor, and founding partner and manager of the "Chilean Graphic Narrative Cooperative"); Pablo Monreal (cartoonist, scriptwriter and producer); Claudio Muñoz (graphic narrator and illustrator), along with Jean Paul Olhaberry (artist, magician and writer).
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They participated, on Friday, July 26, in the panel "Indigenous Cultures and Colonization in Contemporary Graphic Narratives of Chile: The Challenges and Opportunities of Illustrating Memory, History, and Visual Cultures."
In this space, the Chilean delegation presented comics with content related to the indigenous peoples of Chile - such as "Lautaro the Rise" or "We the Selk'nam" - reflecting the cultural richness and diversity of our country.
Raúl Vilches, head of the Creative Industries department at ProChile, explains that "currently, Chilean comics that reflect on their indigenous peoples, with topics such as colonization, independence, and plurinationality have increased in popularity and are a significant part of the diversity that Chile showcases at various international fairs such as Comic-Con".
Likewise, it adds that the North American market is considered a hub for graphic narrative, where now we not only have an exportable offer of professional services for this industry, but also comics that have the potential to be read by millions of people.
Chile's presence at Comic-Con has yielded tangible results in recent years: at the 2023 edition, the translation of the graphic novel "Clandestine Stories" by Ariel Rojas Lizana and Sol Rojas Lizana was presented, which became the first Chilean graphic novel to be translated into English and marketed in the United States, marking a milestone in the export of Chilean creative industries. This achievement was thanks to the work generated by ProChile with the publisher "The End of the World", directed by Sam Cannon.
Chilean Magic Show with Jean Paul Olhaberry.
This year, the Chilean delegation included the presence of Chilean magician and illusionist Jean Paul Olhaberry, who in recent years has managed to succeed abroad, passing through stages such as the Magic Castle in Hollywood or the Fuji Rock in Japan, being the first Chilean artist to perform in both places.
Moreover, he is the creator of the graphic novel "The Wizard of the End of the World", a project revolving around the research of ancestral magic in Chile and Latin America, where his magic tricks and illusions serve as a bridge between contemporary magic and the ancestral knowledge of indigenous peoples.
Olhaberry was at the Chilean booth at Comic-Con performing magic tricks, being supported for the first time by ProChile for the internationalization of his career.