Illustrator, cartoonist and designer Francisco Javier Olea (Chile, 1972) is recognized for his lucid humor and talent.
Olea has worked for many years in the press and has collaborated for the worlds of music, literature, and short films.
He has published books for Children and antologies with his weekly humor vignettes in Chile and Mexico.
His most important works are "Portraits", illustrations of different celebrities and historical figures; "Oleísmos" in which he has given expression to graphic humor; and six books of his authorship, ranging from social humor to graphic novels.
In 2012, in recognition of his career and undeniable talent, he received the Altazor Award of the National Arts in the category of Design and Illustration.
Past, Present and Absent
FRANCISCO JAVIER OLEA
2012: Altazor Prize For National Arts
Laughing at oneself and at reality is nowadays a necessity. Faced with the whirlwind of misfortunes that seems to engulf a world in permanent crisis, a bit of humor is essential. This has been the path taken by Olea, one of the great contemporary Latin American humorists, who in Past, Present and Absent offers us a selection of his best vignettes: the famous oleísmos.
Olea's humor is simple and elegant. He does not need great color or twisted or especially funny shapes to reach our soul. His characters, physically and mentally, are very similar to us: beings with fears, anguish, problems, frustrations, fantasies, pleasures, joys, perversions, and an endless etcetera.