Sono qui, Fernando Cobelo

Illustration as a tool for empathy

Born in Venezuela and moved to Italy in 2010, Cobelo built his artistic career on a personal need: giving visual form to emotions. With Sono qui, he chooses to shift the focus to other people's stories, giving back through his illustrations the experience of those who, like him, have crossed the border and found acceptance. The illustrations, often laden with poetic metaphors, sensitively translate each individual story, transforming it into a universal experience capable of speaking to anyone. This work stems from a profound exercise in empathy and listening, which manages to interweave aesthetics and content with authenticity, resulting in a sincere and touching visual tale.

From idea to detail: the path of the project

The relationship between Fernando Cobelo and Print Club Torino has developed over the years, intertwining paths that began almost in parallel. A relationship born between paper, ink and shared projects, which over time has also turned into a genuine friendship. Since then, the collaboration has consolidated naturally and steadily, based on trust and creative sharing. When Cobelo brought the idea for Sono qui to Print Club Torino, it was just a strong intuition, still without drawings, but with a clear desire to give it shape. Thus began a shared journey: step by step, the workshop supported the development of the project, helping to define its format, structure and materials. Three different proposals were put on the table, each with its own characteristics, in order to identify the most suitable object to tell that story. After the choice was made, a prototype was created, defining the pages, paper and binding, so that the artist could experience the final object first-hand.

From prototype to print: how an idea became a book

With the technical support of the workshop, Cobelo explored risograph printing: he chose the colours from the various options, orange and black, created the files and, exploring the various screen effects, chose the perfect solution for his style and technique with the help of the tutors. From there, the actual production began: printing, assembly, binding, all done by hand. The first print run of 100 copies, accompanied by a limited edition poster, sold out in no time. This positive result prompted the author to consider a second edition, with new colours, fluorescent pink and black, with updated illustrations, while maintaining the original structure and spirit. Sono qui recounts a shared process, in which Print Club Torino supported the author from the design stage, bringing technical expertise and creative sensitivity into play, key elements in capturing and translating the spirit of the project. A journey that saw the workshop transform from a space for discussion to a production workshop, capable of giving shape to a concrete, well-crafted and coherent object.