An exhibition of literary illustrations for all... From May 17 to July 5, 2025, the Assia Djebar Library is hosting a retrospective devoted to the world of Paula Villar, a committed Brazilian illustrator, as part of the France-Brazil 2025 Season. Through a series of critical and humorous drawings and comic strips, the artist delivers a powerful graphic testimony to the social and political realities of her native country. This immersion in present-day Brazil, seen through the eyes of a militant cartoonist, invites you to discover a work that is both personal and universal, biting and poignant.
Born in the turmoil of pandemic management in Brazil, Paula Villar 's work is rooted in a deep indignation at political excesses. In 2021, faced with the Bolsonaro government's health policy, she decided to take up the pen - or rather, the stylus - and began posting critical drawings daily on Instagram, straddling the line between political caricature, social chronicle and introspective comic strip. Her community quickly grew, supported by those who recognized in her drawings a free, sharp and salutary voice.
A former psychologist, Paula Villar made the radical decision to give up her profession to devote herself entirely to illustration, driven by an urgency to draw what she observes and feels. Her graphic style, inspired by vintage comics, blends wry humor with socio-political lucidity. Theexhibition highlights this tension between apparent lightness and seriousness of purpose, a contrast that is the strength of her work. Through her work, she examines themes as diverse as invasive technology, the world of work, power relations and everyday life, with its small dramas and large discrepancies.
What's striking about Paula Villar's work is her ability to capture the essence of a problem in a few strokes, to give rise to reflection from a simple dialogue between two characters, an ordinary scene distorted by the critical gaze. Theexhibition also features a selection of his realistic graphite pencil drawings, as well as a number of oil paintings, testifying to another, more intimate side of his artistic practice, but still imbued with sensitivity and commitment.
The Bibliothèque Assia Djebar, located in the 20th arrondissement of Paris, becomes the stage for a meeting between two cultures, two continents, but also between art and society. This universally accessible venue, perfect for an outing on your own, with family or friends, is transformed into a space for dialogue on major contemporary issues. If you're curious about current struggles in Latin America, passionate about press cartoons or simply a fan of graphic art with a strong message, now's your chance!
Don't miss this dive into the uncompromising world of Paula Villar, an artist who transforms indignation into images, and humor into resistance. The best place to cross paths between Paris and Brazil through the sharp prism of a committed illustrator.
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Dates and Opening Time
From May 17, 2025 to July 5, 2025
Location
Assia Djebar Library
1 Rue Reynaldo Hahn
75020 Paris 20
Prices
Free
