Hélio “Link” Pene The illustrator in the first person

I started drawing very early on. It was my first language, just like it often is for other children. Without any notion of what I would later become, I began inspired by my cousin Nuno’s pencil drawings on the walls of our bedroom. Obsessed by those line drawings, I always tried to imitate him and even better him. Sometime later, I realised I could redraw the characters of video games, comics books, films and cartoons, eventually thinking I could create my own “universe”. I’m a total disaster in other areas, and never dedicated myself to anything other than the art of storytelling through comics. Today, I must admit this is all I know how to do, and I try to do it as perfectly as possible.

Ifind my work fascinating. The art of visually “imprinting” an idea, concept, thought, on a blank canvas; telling a story with a beginning and an end, in which we can transmit a message, form opinions, incite debates and inspire readers and followers, is something that is motivating and stimulating. We feel rewarded when a stranger comes along and critiques our work. We realise that there is someone somewhere who is inspired by our endless hours of creativity, which in turn become a guiding light in the pursuit of their own talents or skills development. As I say again and again: it’s not just about creating illustrations, but also about encouraging and inspiring others.

My best ideas come from everyday life. When something happens or I witness something that fascinates me, I am left to imagine what that real story could look like in an imaginary, fantastical world. I add the “exaggeration” [fantasy] factor, and that’s it. Imagination takes care of the rest. We all love a story. But, if we add the power of the surreal to it, then we have a great story. Training and continuous practice are the essential ingredients for achieving perfection. You have to watch what others do and copy it; there is no harm in copying. Copying makes the copyist a student; the bad thing is to want to remain a student forever.

Unfortunately, we don’t have many references in the country. I would even risk saying that we have almost none. And the ones we do have, are not based here in Mozambique. There is a huge gap left by artists of the past, and my ambition is to occupy that space by becoming a reference [to others]. I can cite Marco Rudy, Nuno Plati and Hélder Pilote as examples of my comic strip references; Maísa Chaves, Hélder Sutia, Neyla Francisco and Zacarias Chemane as illustrators. Regarding whom I would like to collaborate with one day at an international level, I must mention Olivier Coipel, Nuno Plati, Romita, EPHK, Francesco Mortarino and Dan Mora. There are so many of them that influ- ence my way of seeing, doing and living comics that I wouldn’t be able to mention them all in just one page.

There was an episode that left a mark on me when I was in high school, and I was a real collector of comics. At that time, I was already illustrating a lot and my mother, worried about the time I was spending on that activity rather than on schoolbooks, decided to hide all my comics books. She promised to return them to me as soon as the school year was over, and yet three years went by. An uncle of mine, my mother’s brother, who was also into comics in his youth, told me that his father, my grandfather, had done the same thing, and promised to return the magazines after the school year was over. This never happened – the magazines were burnt. I realized then that that was the end of my collection, and that I would never again have access to my comics. The good part of all this is that, because of that episode, I decided I was going to make my own stories. I’m really thankful for that.

The digital world has had a tremendously positive impact on the art world. I remember that there was once very little access to [social] networks, a time when you could hardly hear from or get to know the work of your idols, have access to tutorials or other tools. Today, it’s possible to exhibit work and get advice and critique in return, collaborate remotely and have financial returns along the way, as well as bring together people who share the same goals, dreams and missions.

I want to chart my own path. I want to become a reference, first nationally and then abroad. And if possible, to do it from here, based in my country, because this is where I feel I am needed. I want to make comics under my own name, creating a brand that can drive, motivate and inspire not only amateurs of comics, but all those who, with or without resources, believe they can make a difference, becoming their own idol.

Nos lírios doridos que me amoleciam a alma Nascia o canto que escreveu a poesia! Eram as rezas feitas à Maria Nas tantas celas que o sol xadrez Chorava Craveirinha no esvair de cada dia!

E em cada tortura causada aos resistentes Sua grafia tornava-se resiliente! Com palavras cronificadas tocou Craveirinha o xigubo da liberdade E com multiversos derrubou mentes insanas.

Craveirinha fez de Moçambique a sua poesia Teve Maria como seu guia E no esvair do tempo gritando Karingana ua Karingana Contamos o que é propriedade dos poetas.

E nesse grito, estando já o tambor velho de gritar Contamos sua poesia. Craveirinha vive em mim.

Alcírio Endes Langa, Escola Secundária Francisco Manyanga

(Poema vencedor do Concurso Literário Interescolar de Poesia organizado pela Associação Moçambicana da Língua Portuguesa no âmbito do Centenário do poeta José Craveirinha)