Ville Ranta

Ville Ranta (* 1978 in Oulu) is a Finnish comic artist, political cartoonist, small publishing house founder and author of internationally displaced Graphic Novels. He became known through numerous album releases, poignant topics selected and awards. He is considered a " cornerstone of Finnish comics scene ".

Life and work

Ranta studied Finnish language and literature at the University of Helsinki. After graduation, he opted for a professional career as a draftsman and took off in 2002 in rapid succession own comic books and graphic novels before.

His comic Mohammed, Fear and Freedom of Speech, which he published in 2006 in the cultural magazine Kaltio in response to the Muhammad cartoons controversy caused the dismissal of the editor Jussi Vilkuna and policy corrections. The comic strip Ranta afraid that his career as a draftsman was thus at the end. The opposite occurred, from there he received from numerous newspapers and magazines new orders as a political cartoonist.

Ranta does not believe in any god, but considers indispensable to better be aware that religion is a part of the culture and history of Europe. His Mohamed satire did not apply the religion, but the anticipated obedience of the authorities and the media censorship demands of Islamist groups against.

With a few colleagues, he founded the publishing Asema. His text and scenario by Lewis Trondheim and imaging arisen from him Célébritiz album was named in 2006 by France Télévision as Best Album. In 2009 he was awarded the prize Puupäähattu the Finnish Comic Society.

At L' Album de Exilé Kalevala he was inspired by the life story of the Jewish- Finnish poet Elias Lönnrot (1802-1886) inspired.

In his 2012 come out in a German language version of Elina Kritzokat Comic Book Paradise Ranta brings four variations on the myth of the Fall and the Expulsion from Paradise. This originally from the Finnish Lutheran Church commissioned work allowed him to intensively deal with " questions about laws, prohibitions and freedoms ".

In March 2012, Ranta was invited by his German publisher, funded by the Finnish Institute in Germany and the Finnish Literature Exchange Institute FILI own beamer - reading at the Leipzig Book Fair. After all, was first available in German language with the same time come out licensed edition of Paradise his work.

Ville Ranta lives and works in Oulu, the sixth largest city of Finland and the northernmost major city in the European Union.

Stylistics

Ranta style in text and drawing was " always humorous and deconstructivist ," Ranta says about himself, he often uses a sketchy line and how dabbed acting watercolors. In his work, he likes to take with means of parody and satire, controversial and provocative topics on the grain. His stories have a lot of speed in general, but it may take a back seat sometimes. The snowy landscapes in L' Exilé de Kalevala, for example, are quiet and drawn in black and white.

" Humor is suitable for serious reflection, because prevents humor that you lose traction. "

Works

• Viime vuonna Kemissä ( Asema 2002)
• Sade: Sarjakuvaromaani. Oulu: Asema, 2008 ISBN 978-952-99923-6-2.
• Engelsmannit tulevat! ( Asema 2004)
• Isi on nyt vähän väsynyt ( Asema 2005)
• Célebritiz. Dargaud, Paris 2006
• Julkimot. WSOY, Helsinki 2006. ISBN 951-0-32201-6
• Kajaani. Asema, Oulu, 2008. ISBN 978-952-99923-3-1
• Eräänlaisia ​​rukouksia. Huuda Huuda, Helsinki 2009. ISBN 978-952-5724-08-0
• Paratiisisarja. WSOY, Helsinki 2010. ISBN 978-951-0-35801-6 Paradise. From the Finnish Elina Kritzokat. Reprodukt -Verlag, Berlin 2012