HUMORSAPIENS INTERVIEW WITH LEILA ALAIY
By Pepe Pelayo
In 2014, the Pelayos duo, made up of my son Alex and me, participated in the 5th International City and Citizen Cartoon in the city of Tabriz, Iran, and won Second Prize. One of the advantages of the award was that the winner had to go to Tabriz, in the next version of the competition as a Jury. And we decided that Alex would go. He had a fantastic time there, in a city like something out of an old story, he told me, including its historic bazaar, declared a World Heritage Site. And among the wonders he met was the great lady Leila Alaiy, who was his cicerona all those days. Leila is a fellow graphic humor specialist since 2003, a member of the Tabriz Cartoonists Association and director of the websites Tabriz Cartoon and cwn-news. He has been a judge in international competitions around 30 times, in countries such as Greece, Iran, Turkey, Malaysia, Brazil. Portugal, Belgium, Croatia, Macedonia, Ukraine, Kosovo, Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Well, since that year we have been in contact and I can say that he is a very warm, kind, generous, helpful, intelligent, sensitive and very professional person. It is also the opinion of all of us who are in this world of humor.
For me it is an honor and a pleasure to have her in this vis-à-vis.
PP: Dear Leila, do you like being interviewed?
LEILA: I am very happy and grateful, dear Pepe, because in this way I can think with all the artists of the world does a matter.
PP: I hope that the Spanish translation through Google Translate is at least acceptable. Well, let's start learning about you... As a respectable expert that you are, how do you evaluate and rate the level of current graphic humor in Iran, in the world, but especially on my Continent?
LEILA: Due to the used of technology, we can access the works presented by the artists of the world in the shortest possible time, it has caused the space for the exchange of ideas between artists from all over the world to increase and it has led to the development and emergence of new creations among all artists. I have known the graphic humor of Chile with a great artist like you, dear Pepe, and Alex, who came to Tabriz as the winner, and I can definitely say that Chile has wonderful artists who create graphic humor in the best possible way. You introduce the world. Also, the excellent website run by you and Alex provides a great influence and role in introducing Chilean graphic comics.
PP: Thank you, Leila, you are very generous with your words. Do you know? In almost all Latin American countries it is said: “My country is a town of comedians”, “in my country you move a stone and a comedian comes out”, etc., is the same thing said in Iran?
LEILA: The country of Iran has a rainbow of many ethnic groups with their own culture, and customs, and I must say that each region has its own artists and comedians according to its own culture, customs and dialect. Tabriz, my city, is not an exception to this rule, considering the 8,000-year-old history that it has many artists in the fields of Azerbaijani music and folklore, caricature theater, painting, etc. Jalil Mohammad Golizadeh was one of the most famous comic artists of Azerbaijan who also published Mulla Nasreddin magazine.
PP: A privilege to publish in that magazine. For those who don't know, the city of Tabriz is the capital of the East Azerbaijan province, and obviously borders Azerbaijan. And I continue for those who don't know, Iran is a breeding ground for numerous and important cartoonists. This art is very popular there and Tabriz is not far behind. And from this data I am going to ask you: personally, how did you get into the world of humor?
LEILA: Considering that teaching is more important for children through images, that's why I had to learn the language of humor and images, and one of the biggest chances in my life was meeting Mr. Rahim Baghal Asghari, who has a booklet of the best cartoons and from this I found my way into the world of cartoons.
PP: Well, I bless the time when Mr. Baghal Asghari guided and trained you, because you do a lot of good for our profession. And now tell me about your experience working on such a well-known website, in the Tabriz Contest, in short, everything you do related to humor in your daily life.
LEILA: Since 2014, I have experience working on Tabriz cartoon site. Due to the 24-year history of the Tabriz cartoon site, which has its own special place in the world, I publish news when the results and competitions are published, and at the same time, I enjoy publishing the news of the success of my friends and colleagues. Of course, according to the experiences I have gained in recent months, I will publish the news in another way other than the site with a new idea soon...
PP: Great. Let's wait for that new format then. Leila, what can you tell me about your enormous experience as a jury for international competitions? How did you become so involved in the international circuit?
LEILA: I believe that in judging you should be completely neutral and without intention. The work that shows the subject well is as if it calls you and shows you its clarity and transparency. According to the experiences that I have from seeing many works daily, according to the publication of the news of the results and works that are presented for the gallery to be published on the cwn-news website, and knowing the techniques and performances of the cartoonists of the world, according to the experience of twenty years of work in this In context, it can be said that judging is an amazing experience. In judging, you must be completely neutral and choose intelligently, and at the same time, you must master the subject in order to recognize the similarity of the works and artificial intelligence among the submitted works.
PP: I congratulate you for the beautiful work you have done as a jury around the world. But within the field of humor, what would you like to do or achieve that you haven't done or achieved yet?
LEILA: As much as I can, I like to enjoy the path of art while moving towards my goal.
PP: Well, you are not ambitious, because I am sure that what you do and will do will be of great responsibility, quality and satisfaction for you. Dear Leila, what is your opinion on the differences in graphic humor? Is graphic humor an “umbrella” that covers the caricature, the personal caricature, the comic strip, the cartoon, the editorial caricature, etc., or do all these concepts run along different paths? For example, is a caricature or cartoon one thing and graphic humor another? Isn't graphic humor a personal caricature?
LEILA: Graphic humor is one of the factors of creating attractiveness based on easy communication with the audience in a creative and effective process. Graphic humor has three main functions that are used for information and education, introduction and visual identity, supply and advertising. Each of these functions plays a special role in the relationship with the audience. I agree with this opinion that graphic humor such as umbrellas, cartoons by breaking and shifting boundaries, and caricatures based on political and sarcastic criticisms, and comic strips by It has comet humor under its patronage.
PP: Okay then. Now, to continue, I am forced to ask your opinion on the limits of humor. He has them? And if you have them, what are they?
LEILA: Every person's belief is the most important thing for him. Humor is different . The subject world is infinite, but far from insults and ethnic prejudices.
PP: I fully agree with you. And for you, which work has more value, the excellent one drawn with a weak message, or one with a very important message and a weak workmanship? And, does a work that only aims to make you laugh or smile have value?
LEILA: The best and most valuable work is a work that can convey its concept to the audience within 3 seconds. It is rare to find a work that can present its concept with poor execution unless its execution is simple and at the same time full of meaning.
PP: I see that we are on frequency again. Tell me something, is a comedian born or made?
LEILA: In my opinion, a comedian is born because every human being has his own mission, and a professional comedian is someone who, according to his unique characteristics and abilities, pulls out all these features from within himself and in his own way. He becomes a unique comedian.
PP: Can you tell me any funny, curious or witty anecdote that you liked? Has it happened in your work within humor?
LEILA: "You can also see and enjoy the blue sky from behind a dirty window. "In my opinion, the best comic artists are those who look at the issues from the heart of the existing problems and issues in a completely intelligent and scrutinizing way, and with this different look, they reach the depth and understanding of them and create a unique work.
PP: Are there any questions you wish I had asked you, but didn't? If so, could you answer it now?
LEILA: One of the questions I would like you to ask is this question, what is your world like?
And in response, I must say that the outside world starts from inside me, and the more I can accept my inner world with its various colors, the better I can love all people in the outside world.
PP: Very nice question and your answer is beautiful. So to finish, can you say a few words to our Humor Sapiens readers?
LEILA: One of the best humor bases in the world is Humor Sapiens and its place among humorists. During the recent years, this unique site has taken valuable steps towards enhancing the art of humor and I hope it will continue its strong path. I appreciate this unique move.
PP: Thanks a million for that answer that makes me proud, dear Leila.
I hope you had fun in this vis-à-vis. My expectations were met. It was truly a great pleasure and an honor for me, for which I once again thank you from the bottom of my heart.
And I wish you good health and continued success, because you have much left to give.
LEILA: Dear Pepe, thank you so much for your invited to me for Interview. All the my greetings from Tabriz!
