Beneficio by Michał Kalicki & Gawron

Europe Comics

Pub Date 22 Apr 2020  

Description

Not so long ago, humankind did not move as widely as it does today. Few left their native village, and people were left to wonder what lay beyond the next hill or valley. But life was full of storytellers, folklore, performers, nature. These days anyone can buy a ticket to the other side of the world, but what is the purpose? What are we seeking? This poetic work seeks evasive answers to the questions we have all asked ourselves about the mysteries of modern life.

REVIEW

My review is that I didn’t get. I felt a bit thick reading this. It felt like it was referencing things that I didn’t know about. The art is eerie and the colour palette is gives a sense of strangeness. From my understanding one of the themes explored is loneliness and strangeness of the modern world.

Some of the images lingered with me after I put it down. This book is a surreal and often abstract travelogue that baffled me. The lettering frustrated me and I can’t say I enjoyed reading it. I’d say it verges on pretentiousness but I’m not sure that is true.

Not sure who would enjoy this. If I have any Polish readers can you please let me know how it reads in its native language.