Seeing the great master is worth waiting for

by Yu Nan
Beijing, China

On Oct 3rd, 2004, I was honored to have been assigned to greet Guillermo Mordillo and other cartoonists at the Beijing Airport. I picked them up and took them to the opening ceremony at 9 in the morning that was to take place at the Beijing Exhibition Centre. The first were the two Singaporeans and 6:40 then at 7:40 I would meet Mordillo. Although my knowledge of Modillo was only through newspapers and Web sites, I knew that he was a famous cartoonist and that his books were sold in China. Some newspapers called him the great master and the likes. I waited for him full of admiration just like others who would wait for an adoring superstar. In spite of getting up at five in the morning, I felt fresh.

At 6:40 the meeting with the Singaporeans went just as planned.When the pessengers from the French airliner came out one by one I looked forward with eager expectancy to see the man whom I expected to look somewhat odd as super artists are always eccentic. However, I was so disappointed because nobody came to me even though I held a sign up with his name.

At 8:20, Ana von Rebeur from Argentina came to me with her charming smile. If I could only offer more than a smile at that time... After having exchanged short compliments, I arranged for her to sit on the chair in the waiting area with me and we waited for Modillo together.

Twenty minutes passed and I was becoming hopeless. I started to complain and wonder who might have made a mistake; that perhaps Modillo has taken another plane. Then I saw a man dressed simply and coming to me in haste. He said ”I am Modillo, they lost our luggage, please wait for us a few minutes while we ask the officer what we need to do.” And then he went back in a hurry.

We were still waiting at 9 o’clock. The opening ceremony had already started when finally Mordillo came out with his wife and assistant from customs. I moved towards them immediately and after a short introduction we took a taxi to exhibition center. Oh, my God, how bad is it?! We missed the opening ceremony. I was sure all of them were so tired after their long trip, and that they wouldn’t feel like taking part in the opening ceremony yet I decided to take them there. I felt so depressed.

Nevertheless, throughout the rest of the conference, I found that all the endeavor was worth it. The waiting maybe was arranged by God to let us have a deeper impression of the great master.

Many reporters knew the name of Modillo, but hadn’t seen him before. After waiting so long for his arrival when we finally stepped into the Beijing Exhibition Centre, many reporters with microphones and video recorders came toward him. He was busy answering one question after another. His forehead shone in the sunlight radiated a life experience and wisdom, and his childish smile from the corner of his mouth revealed the pureness of his heart.
Throughout the conference some famous media, among them Joyo.com and the Global Times interviewed him.

When Mordillo finished the interview with reporters, he wanted to go into the hall of exhibition. Some fans recognized him, and then the time to sign his name started. He was so delighted to sign his name for these fans and let them take photos with him. He was surrounded by his fans like a superstar. In spite of being tired from his long trip, he did his best to treat the fans with kindness and patience.

Later he always kept his gentle ways, giving his best smile, his signature and lovely drawings to the fans. His answer to the question “What is the humor?” varied. This is probably the most frequently asked question posed to any cartoonist, so one would think he should have a ready-made answer. And he did. Perhaps it was asked so many times that the answers have evoleved. Once he cited the famous words: “Humour is a hope in desperation.” Another time he said “Humour is a laugh at disappointment.” But this time he surprised us saying that “Humour is a fear of femininity.“ You are likely not to understand it, but this is the wisdom Mordillo learned from his cartoons throughout his life. He likes to draw couples and animals to express the relationship within.

I understand his words this way: dwelling on his picture after your first laugh, like the taste of old wine, mellowness is coming from the momentary aftertaste of bitterness.

In his drawings small potatoes are the leading actors forever. Their image is not complicated. Hard to tell their age or profession; they all appear very similar to each other with the slightest degree of sophistication. All these express the abstract meaning of the all living things in his works, no less than in the Orient wherever I go. Every pawn on the chess board is equal and looks simple on the surface, however their possibilities are endless. Mordillo’s characters are always on an island, at the top of a wild mountain, or in the jungle and they have quite an ordinary appearance. So the meaning of the cartoons are left to the individual viewer to decide. Some people only see the joke innocuously, others may experience the fear of femininity.

Compared to his simple drawing style Mordillo always lays the flashiest colors on his pictures with the greatest ease. Perhaps he would like to share the happiness he experiences during the creative process with the viewers.