I am very pleased to present my interview with author-illustrator Nat Cardozo about her illustration and story processes for Origin, translated by Layla Benitez-James and Ian Farnes. Nat works in a format called pyrography, which I have never talked to anyone about before, so it was edifying and fascinating to hear about how her lush illustrations came to life. Enjoy!
About the book:
We are all one. We all inhabit the same planet, and we all have a common human origin.
This is the core theme of this important book. Each double-page spread presents a contemporary and fascinating look at more than 20 Indigenous peoples from across the globe. These first nations were the first humans to inhabit their territories, which are under threat today from "civilization" that seeks to profit from them and their lands.
In these societies, a sense of community life prevails, based on reciprocity, solidarity, mutual aid, avoiding excess, and honoring what nature provides. Indigenous peoples are also the guardians of 80 percent of terrestrial biodiversity--they are the first conservationists of the natural environment.
Let's talk Nat Cardozo!
LTPB: Where did the idea for Origin come from?
NC: The idea for Origin has been with me since childhood. Growing up, I was surrounded by social, economic and ideological contrasts that had a huge impact on my worldview. I was deeply concerned about inequality, social injustice and environmental issues, and I had lots of questions. I wanted to understand how we had reached that point, secretly hoping that if we knew how it all began, we could change it. As I grew up, I travelled a lot and those questions stayed with me.
Then, as I came across information about different indigenous cultures around the world, suddenly everything began to fall into place. These cultures have developed rich and complex societies and cosmologies based on nature over thousands of years. Nature is the mother and teacher who cultivates their wisdom, resilience and knowledge. I became passionate about this relationship. Human beings occupied a completely different place on the planet, and this connection explained many things.
LTPB: Can you talk about your research process for this book, both for the visuals and the text?
NC: I knew nothing about ethnology or anthropology, so I had no methods or contacts that could help me. However, my curiosity and passion for learning and understanding led me to start making a list of criteria for selecting indigenous cultures from around the world. After all, there are more than 5,000 indigenous cultures around the world. The cultures on the list had to exist today, and at least some of them had to maintain their culture and beliefs.
Their culture had to develop around nature, holistically interconnected. They have to livein different continents and ecosystems. At last, there must be available and sufficient information about them.
Meanwhile, I prioritised interviews, books, websites and testimonies from indigenous people. I supplemented these with all the information I could find in anthropological camp studies and from NGOs working directly with the indigenous people. Overwhelmed by the amount of information, I spent endless hours searching for keywords to help me refine my search and verify the accuracy of the sources and data. A similar process occurred when I searched for images that would help me create a possible physiognomy for each child to represent their culture. The same happened with the ecosystem that best captured the atmosphere in which I imagined they lived. Finally, I started working on the wood to begin pyrography.
LTPB: What did you find most difficult in creating this book? What did you find most rewarding?
NC: For me, the most difficult part was doing the research and condensing it into the text. It was completely outside my comfort zone. Seeing readers of all ages connect with and reflect on the concept is the most rewarding part.
LTPB: What did you use to create the illustrations in this book?
LTPB: What are you working on now? Anything you can show us?
NC: I am currently working on a second book with Magic Cat Publishers about historical treasures, a book with Awarenearth a non-profit organization called Resilience, and beginning my search for the Origin sequel.
LTPB: If you got the chance to write your own picture book autobiography, who (dead or alive!) would you want to illustrate it, and why?
NC: If I had the opportunity to write my own autobiography as an illustrated book, I would want to illustrate it myself. It would be an honest and challenging conversation. I express myself through illustration in a way that I can't with words. However, I have also become a kind of channel in the creative process. This works as an enlightening tool for understanding and connecting with what I want to learn, as well as what concerns and inspires me. Therefore, I wouldn't miss the opportunity to learn from that experience.
A big thanks to Nat for answering some questions for me! Origin: An Illuminating Look at Indigenous Peoples and Their Connection to the Natural World published last month from Red Comet Press!
Special thanks to Nat and Red Comet for use of these images!
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