The grandson of Josep Escobar, a renowned 20th-century Catalan cartoonist and creator of characters such as Zipi y Zape, Carpanta, and Petra, has shared memories of his grandfather. This family initiative aims to keep the artist's legacy alive, collaborating with the Museu del Joguet de Catalunya to showcase his foray into animation.
The exhibition, titled Escobar animador, can be visited until September 19 and reveals a surprising aspect of Escobar's work. On Saturday, May 16, the exhibition's curator, professor Joan Manuel Soldevilla, will offer a guided tour to delve deeper into this part of his career.
According to his grandson, Escobar's talent was innate, manifesting from childhood. His inspiration came from his surroundings and daily life, reflecting themes such as hunger with Carpanta, the children's world with Zipi y Zape, or housing difficulties with Doña Tomasa. These characters, despite the passage of time, remain relevant and connect with today's audience.
“"Escobar's art was pure talent, he carried it within; he was inspired by his surroundings, by life."
Escobar's family is also working to enhance the relevance of Zipi y Zape, seeking projects that update them and position them as licenses comparable to other European comics. Furthermore, there is a call for a comic museum in Barcelona, a city with a rich publishing tradition and great potential in this field.
“"It is a crying shame that a city like Barcelona, with all the editorial potential it had and still has, does not have a proper comic museum."
