Argentinian illustrator Pablo Bernasconi (born 1973) has been nominated three times for the Hans Christian Andersen Awards, but I wasn’t familiar with him before. I was immediately drawn to him after reading his two hilarious science picture books, “The Big Bang,” which he wrote and illustrated. He pretends the books are the diaries of the eccentric yet imaginative Captain Arsenio, then delivers his serious nonsense, supplemented by Leonardo da Vinci-like diagrams of his inventions. These books are both hilarious and rich in scientific knowledge and spirit! I couldn’t help but wonder, what kind of person is this Pablo?
Now, after reading these six books of “Unrestricted Minds,” Pablo’s imagination has once again amazed me; he truly has a boundless imagination. For example, in “Where the Line Ends,” as the pages turn, a series of quirky yet genuinely adorable animals appear, each developing their own bizarre interpretations of the line, piqued the reader’s curiosity. I couldn’t guess what the line was until the very end, but once the truth was revealed, I burst out laughing. However, while the story is 70% absurd and hilarious, it also boasts a solid logic and a lingering aftertaste. Especially among these quirky animals, despite the occasional misunderstandings and playful encounters, their curiosity, warmth, and mutual care remain the core themes. For example, in “The Overslept Polar Bear” and “The Warmhearted Crow,” the hilarious stories are woven with themes of friendship and cooperation, and the broader concept of “family.”
Perhaps it’s not entirely coincidental that Pablo shares the same name (but not the same surname) as Pablo Picasso, whom Bernasconi idolized and who devoted his life to learning to draw like a child. His artistic style is steeped in surrealism, and he favors collage, employing everyday materials in unexpected combinations and shapes to create childlike images, often creating bizarre creatures. Take, for example, “The Strange Gollum.” Who can quite explain what Gollum is? Yet, it unexpectedly forms a deeply inspiring allegory about the process of self-discovery and cognition, the diversity of beauty, and the profound need for tolerance. The relatively young Pablo, a bookworm obsessed with fantasy from a young age, declared that the children’s books he created were those he himself wanted to read as a child but never got to. Perhaps this is why reading his picture books is so relatable.
My favorite of these six books is “The Faceless Giraffe.” It shares a similarity with “Move Over! The Lions Are Coming” in that both explore the issue of acceptance and being accepted. In the latter, a dachshund believes he is a lion and hopes to be accepted as such by his companions. However, after a series of rational arguments and proofs, he fails. Ultimately, thanks to the lioness’s almost “blind” acceptance, he finally achieves his wish and becomes a lion. Indeed, we can jokingly say that love is blind. But “The Faceless Giraffe” earnestly demonstrates how endearing “blindness” can be! While people are accustomed to looking at themselves in the mirror and seeing others’ appearances with their eyes, a mole, so nearsighted that she can only see a few of the giraffe’s legs, can actually see the giraffe’s heart and the qualities she is most proud of. This actually subverts the moral of the traditional story “The Blind Men and the Elephant,” encouraging and emphasizing the importance of seeing with the heart.
Overall, the “Unrestricted Mind” series showcases Pablo’s extraordinary creativity and impressive illustrations. Its signature artistic style and narrative interest not only make the stories more visually impactful, but also provide readers with more room for divergent thinking. Children’s imaginations can be ignited here, and adults may also find topics they are willing to explore in depth.
Written in Beijing on December 6, 2023
