It was not easy to select, for this exhibition, the works of only three Serbian comics authors and only three Italian ones among all those who have written (and drawn) the history of comics in the two countries over the past century and more. For this reason, we adopted different approaches for the two nations.
For Serbian comics, we chose three artists who are very different from one another, both in style and in genre, yet all share a strong connection with Italy. From Sergej Solovjev, one of the most mature representatives of the Belgrade Circle, who created and painted pages of extraordinary beauty in a predominantly epic style, published in his homeland in Mika Miš, Mikijevo Carstvo, and Politikin Zabavnik, and in Italy in equally prestigious magazines such as L’Avventurosoand Lo Scolaro.
To Branislav “Bane” Kerac, who has lent his pencils to internationally renowned characters such as Tarzan, The Phantom, and Zagor, but who is above all known for creating numerous stories of Il Grande Blek—an Italian character beloved by generations of readers—produced in Yugoslavia and later translated into Italy, France, and other European countries.
Finally, the multifaceted Aleksandar Zograf, also known as Saša Rakezić, whose incisive style has narrated, with deep knowledge and clear communicative synthesis, stories—sometimes little known—of both countries.
A different approach was taken for the Italian representatives. Here, we chose to present three younger artists who have distinguished themselves—and continue to do so—on the international scene for their extraordinary talent.
From Giuseppe Palumbo, who, emerging from the Valvoline group with his character Ramarro, stylistically reinterpreted a comics classic such as Diabolik and its parallel series DK.
To Sergio Algozzino, a multitasking author who moves effortlessly from graphic novels to Dylan Dog, without forgetting his strong commitment to comics education and dissemination.
Finally, the engaging painterly style of Grazia La Padula, who merges comics and illustration into a unique narrative form of powerful emotional impact