Cándido and everybody else

We’re all different. And this is how Cándido is presented to us: a peculiar person with a great need to express himself to the world around him, to be understood and accepted. Rarely has such an apparently simple text promoted such a profound and necessary reflection of a complex society as this. The main character of the book, winner of the 11th Compostela International Prize for Picture Books, feels odd; he shares his feelings towards those around him with the readers, while we discover what others think about him. Oblivious to the faceless crowd that follows changing fashions, Cándido feels out of place, but tries to go unnoticed; he’s aware of the sense of insecurity and loneliness comes about as a result of being ignored. And although the world has become a hostile place to nature and people, the positive thing is that there is always a meeting point that unites Cándido and everybody else. Well, not all of them. But that's another story…

Fran Pintadera and Christian Inaraja are the authors of this circular story about an iconic character. In parallel with the simple narrative, the graphic language stands out for its economy of resources - schematic and thick strokes, neutral backgrounds, solid colours - and the use of visual metaphors that represent the range of emotions and sensations that Cándido feels. Alongside him coexist other figures with different appearances -also drawn in an abstract style - that bring a touch of humour and imagination.