Comics are a form of material art embedded in wider cultural processes. They usually appear in print form, but they have also populated the virtual world using social media to channel creativity and reach wider audiences.

Comics are part and parcel of contemporary museum exhibitions, TV series, films, music videos and, generally, consumer products within the circuit of culture. The endless possibilities of comics to narrate and their capacity to adapt and intersect with other media (photography, music, literature, theatre, poetry, illustration, games) make them an apt example of contemporary cultural production as cross-medial. Currently, comics are experiencing a great creative moment, with new aesthetic trends that broaden their horizon and strengthen their intermedial character. In both Spain and Latin America, new generations of authors are creating comics breathing new life into them and a desire to experiment. In this series of online seminars titled ‘Intermedial Narratives: Conversations with Comic Authors’, Jorge Catalá and Gerardo Vilches explore the multifaceted landscape of contemporary comics through conversations with comics artists, in which we will delve into their creative processes, their themes, and their references.

Third conversation: Amanda Baeza

Amanda Baeza (1990) is a Chilean-Portuguese artist who graduated in graphic design from Faculdade de Belas Artes, Lisbon. Her universe includes comics (the vast majority are short stories published in international alternative anthologies), illustrations and fanzines (like “Mr. Spoqui”, a long series created in collaboration with her siblings). Alongside her practice as an artist, Amanda has been an illustration and comics teacher since 2016 at the independent art school, Ar.Co, in Lisbon.