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I don't work with contexts I disagree with at a discursive level: Dipacho
On one of the pages of Red Bull (Milserifas, 2018), a black bull crosses a red field that seems to be burning. It advances with its horns lowered, it likes nothing: “neither anyone”, “nor the yellow sun”, “nor the green grass”. Rage occupies almost the entire page, until the landscape changes: water appears, the horizon opens up and the animal transforms.
TL;DR
- Dipacho champions play, ambiguity, and emotional freedom as essential components of children's literature, moving beyond moralistic or didactic intentions.
- He believes that children's literature loses value when it becomes too serious, as play is a profound form of thought and connection.
- Dipacho's work often features ambiguous endings and characters who experience complex emotions, encouraging readers to find their own interpretations.
- He prioritizes authorial voice and co-creation, finding deeper engagement when the work is his own or developed collaboratively.
- The illustrator uses subtlety and suggestion, rather than literal explanations, to address difficult themes like migration, loss, and adult experiences.
- Dipacho values the materiality of books and shared physical experiences, contrasting them with impersonal digital interactions.
- He notes that while some books are created with specific child audiences in mind, many stem from his own inner childhood and persistent questions.