Egyptian life reflected in French graphic novel

CAIRO – 26 September 2017: A caricaturist fond of Egypt, French Golo spoke about his new graphic novel at the third edition of the CairoComix Festival that was held in AUC Tahrir and concluded on Sunday.


Golo spoke about his new graphic novel at the third edition of the CairoComix Festival - by Egypt Today Staff

The renowned cartoonist spoke in the seminar on the last day of the festival about his new comic book that will be published in October in France, about the adventures and the travels of his main character French-Romanian writer Panati Istrati; a second part of Golo’s book will be produced, and it will be about the struggles in Istrati’s life.

Golo was inspired by Istrati, who wrote novels that Golo felt reflected his inner status. Golo quotes the Romanian novelist; “When I had arrived to Egypt for the first time, I felt that I would live the most amazing story in my life.” In the seminar, he mentioned that he and Istrati have several similarities especially the feelings they hold towards Egypt.

Istrati was a Francophone Romanian working class writer who lived in the period between 1935 and 1948. He loved travelling and visiting many places all over the world including Egypt, France, Turkey and Syria.

Although he gave up on his education at the age of 13, he could teach himself French by reading prominent French writers and learning their famous quotes by heart to enable himself to master the language; until he was able to finish his first French book that became a huge success.

Due to the common traits between them, Golo was greatly affected by Istrati's life and decided to compose two albums in 2010 about him, one is about his adventures, to be published in October, and the other is about the struggles he had to face in his life; aiming to keep the memory of those writers who were not common, like Istrati, alive, Golo said.

Both Golo and Istrati came to Egypt following their friends’ advice, and after they had been impressed by their first visit, they both took it as a shelter to escape to in the winter.


Golo’s drawings in Istrati book - by Egypt Today Staff

Golo learned from Istrati’s love for cafes, where people regardless of their social status sit together exchanging ideas. “Gathering in these cafes helped express ideas through paintings conducted in newspapers long ago,” stated Golo.

Golo resembles Istrati’s novels to the stories of One Thousand and One Nights, because of Istrati’s talented storytelling.

To transfer the spirit of the past into this graphic novel correctly, Golo spent many hours in libraries to study the manner in which people used to dress, talk and live in the 1980s and 1990s, especially in the societies visited by Istrati, particularly Egypt. Therefore, he draws black and white sketches in this novel to suit the style of living in that era.

Drawing Istrati’s life, was a work that took four years to be completed. The sketches in his book were taken from famous carnivals and traditions organized in the 20th century in Romania and Europe, alongside with some sketches from films such as that of the boat drawn in the album inspired by scenes from Istrati’s favorite actor, Charlie Chaplin’s films.

Golo employs techniques as he drafts his work, which involves reading the events of any novel he wants to adapt, organizing those events in his brain, and improvising while drawing the pictures in his head with a paint brush.

“I do not draw chronologically according to the order of the events in a novel; however I draw according to what attracts me first. Yet the only difficulty I face is when I paint a picture different from what I had imagined,” Golo told Egypt Today.