Ihmisiä Lähteellä: Frank Arbelo

Frank Arbelo on kuubalainen kuvittaja ja graafinen suunnittelija, joka voitti Save Lapinlahti with a Poster -kilpailun upealla työllään (kuvassa alla). Hän asuu Boliviassa, ja saimme sähköpostin välityksellä häneltä vastauksia inspiraatiosta tähän työhön ja kilpailuun. Hänen mielestään Lapinlahden kaltaiset paikat ovat todella tärkeitä toivon satamia nykymaailmassa. Hän ei halua antaa muuta palautetta Lapinlahdesta kuin pyynnön, että paikka saisi pysyä ja toiveen, että vastaavia paikkoja tulisi lisää. Lue alta pala hänen tarinaansa. Julistenäyttely Lapinlahden sisäpihalla on auki enää elokuun loppuun asti eli viikko aikaa tulla tutustumaan vaikuttaviin töihin!

Tell a little about yourself and your background.

”My name is Frank Arbelo, I’m an illustrator and graphic designer. I was born in Cuba but since 1997 I have lived in Bolivia, where I have developed most of my work. In addition to poster design, I have worked illustrating for the press and I have also dabbled in the world of comics.”

Why did you enter this competition?

“I saw the call on social networks and was interested in the topic. Currently, I rarely participate in contests, but if any call motivates me or arouses my interest, I don’t hesitate to participate, and that’s what happened with this contest. I understood that there was a real intention to show the situation of the place and the importance of recovering it for the community and that motivated me to participate.”

Where did you get inspiration for your work?

“Before I came up with this image, I was working on several ideas with the building as the central image, but the human figure was gaining prominence since it allowed me to represent that this space is created by and for the community. With the inclusion of the bird that comes out of the human figure, the idea was rounded off.”

How did the winning of the competition feel?

“When I participate in these types of contests, I don’t mind whether I’m going to win or not. I assumed it is a challenge to find the graphic solution to the proposed theme. I enjoyed the entire creative process, from conceptualization to the manual part, to give shape to the idea. That’s why I didn’t expect it and I was pleasantly surprised to receive it.”

What is your image of Lapinlahden Lähde? How would you improve the concept or what kind of tips you could give us?

“By familiarizing myself with making the poster I discovered the great work Lapinlahden Lähde does and how important it is for the community.

More than giving advice or trying to improve anything, I wish you could always maintain the place and hopefully many spaces like this will be replicated.”

What brings you hope in today’s world?

“This question is linked to the previous one because these places, where well-being is prioritized and creativity and culture are given place, generate hope and become a kind of resistance to the proliferation of artificial intelligence and the dehumanization of society.”

Do you have anything else you would like to share about your work or life?

“It was a pleasure to participate in the contest and the whole process and as long as there are contests like this, we will continue to love and enjoy making posters. What I can only do, is to thank you again for this award and wish Lapinlahden Lähde a long life.”

Ohessa Frankin instagram-tili, jos haluat tutustua hänen muihin töihinsä: @arbelostudio26