Milo Manara’s erotic characters in Athens
The setting was quite appropriate: Standing in the middle of luxurious, sensuous, brightly colored, satin lingerie was Milo Manara. The popular Italian comics artist was in Athens recently to present his new album, titled «Sensualitars,» in which all the heroines are well-known historical figures. The event, which took place at a Kolonaki lingerie store – giant La Perla is sponsoring the new album – also featured 15 large-scale works which were inspired by the edition (They will remain on display at the store until April 21). Showcased, among others, were Fryni, Praxiteles’s model; Lucrezia, whom Botticelli fell in love with; not to mention Empress Theodora. Born in Bolzano, Italy, in 1945, Manara became a pioneer of erotic comic strips with works such as «Il profumo dell’ Invisibile,» «Gulliveriana,» «Candid Camera,» and the «Click» series as well as the legendary «Guiseppe Bergman» collection, while his collaborations with comics legend Ugo Pratt – the father of «Corto Maltese» (together they wrote «Indian Summer» and «El Gaucho») and Federico Fellini («A Trip to Tulum») made him even more popular. At a time when the media – especially television and magazines – lean heavily toward the erotic, does Manara feel that he is responsible for introducing the public to bedroom secrets? «I don’t feel very good these days. The way in which the erotic element is presented lies within the framework of consumerism and eroticism is prostituting itself. However, I don’t feel any guilt because I always sketch women who live in my mind. Therefore these are ideas, figures of my imagination, not real people. In television, on the other hand, it is real girls selling the products, so that every time we see something erotic, this is done in order to make money. Surely this does not reflect me or my work. When someone is looking for an image of erotic fantasy, I will offer one to him, I will sketch it willingly and I will not feel an ounce of guilt.» A fight for culture Manara is currently participating in a movement of Italian artists who are criticizing governmental action on the cultural front. «In the last few years I have satirized Berlusconi through my work. We all oppose the destruction of art which he has brought about through his actions and television channels. The great problem is that the Berlusconi group owns all the publishing houses. Therefore every time we want to publish new work, all of us opposing him have to talk to his companies.» But Manara spoke lovingly about his friendship with the late Ugo Pratt: «I miss him a lot. We had a very strong bond; I always felt he was my older brother. We spoke on the phone every day,» said Manara, whose next work will be based on Greek mythology. «All I can say is that it will be related to the Odyssey. I will leave it at that as I’m quite superstitious, you know!»
