Rodrigo’s exhibition explores a different approach to humour

Rodrigo de Matos

Titled “Punacotheca,” the new exhibition from Macau-based Portuguese cartoonist Rodrigo de Matos proposes a completely different approach to the “humorous” style that is always present in his works.

With a 10-year-long career in editorial cartoons, Rodrigo accepted a new challenge given to him by the Center for Creative Industries (Creative Macau) to venture into new fields.

A secret wish of his was revealed, the desire to give more value to “how is it done” rather than “what is done,” as mentioned in his interview with the Times.

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“In editorial cartoons it doesn’t really matter how the cartoon is done and what techniques are used because what is important is the core message that is on it,” he said, adding, “While in illustration and painting, art is more valued: the way the work is done, the technique, the concept and the outcome,” he concluded, noting that this exhibition is for him an opportunity to exercise his skills and technical capabilities without deserting the humor that has been the center stage of his life and career.

Explaining a bit of the idea behind “Punacotheca,” the awarded cartoonist said that the “pun,” also called paronomasia, is a form of wordplay that exploits multiple meanings of a term, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect.

Puns are the core of Rodrigo’s new works, picking up words and expressions that he sees and reads in daily life and newspapers to create something else. By doing so, he creates something that can be both ambiguous and bizarre and above all ludicrous.

Rodrigo thought about “playing” with English and/or Portuguese words and expressions, trying to choose puns that work in both languages or at least can be perceived with a minimal knowledge of the English language.
Besides presenting a very personal perspective, the works are completely new (except for one) and created specifically for this exhibition, and reflect the daily life and topics of Macau and the surrounding regions.

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A series of paintings and illustrations made without the support of digital devices, this exhibition is for the author “also an opportunity to perfect my technique and try different materials, acrylic paint, permanent pens, or other techniques that have a more symbolic value.” Such techniques are explored without the aim of conveying a political message (in contrast to what happens most of the time with editorial cartoons).

For future projects, the artist revealed his intention to pursue another of his old ideas – to explore Portuguese language proverbs and idiomatic expressions, creating a kind of illustrated dictionary based around those phrases.

The “Punacotheca,” presenting a collection of about 30 illustrations and paintings by Rodrigo, will be on display from March 22 until April 21 at Creative Macau on the ground floor of the Macau Cultural Center building. Admission is free.

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