What role does text play in a graphic novel? What challenges and complexities arise when translating a graphic novel? These and other questions will be explored in a discussion dedicated to the translation of graphic novels, featuring translators Enrique Gutiérrez Rubio (translator of Jaroslav Rudiš and Jaromír 99’s Alois Nebel into Spanish) and Denisa Škodová (translator of The Art of Flying by Antonio Altarriba and illustrator Kim into Czech). The debate will be moderated by translator and Josef Jungmann Award winner Anežka Charvátová.
The debate is organized by the Cervantes Institute in Prague in collaboration with the Czech Literary Center and with financial support of Embassy of Spain in Prague
The debate will be interpreted from and into Spanish.
Enrique Gutiérrez Rubio (Madrid, 1976) is a translator, linguist, university lecturer, and editor. He received his academic education at the Universidad Complutense in Madrid (Slavic Philology, German Philology), where he also earned a doctorate with a thesis on Czech linguistics (2007). Since 2008, he has been primarily focused on his academic work in the Department of Romance Studies at Palacký University in Olomouc. He is the author of four books and thirty scientific articles on linguistics and literature. His translations from Czech to Spanish include the graphic novels Alois Nebel and Zatím dobrý (So Far So Good). His other translations include The Lost Diary of Professor from Essex: or The Wonderful Bestiary by Olga Černá and Miroslav Šašek and the poetry collection New Wilderness by Jonáš Zbořil.
Denisa Škodová (Prague, 1982) studied English and American Studies and Hispanic Studies at the Faculty of Arts, Charles University. She was awarded the Premio Iberoamericano for an essay on the work of Nicaraguan modernist poet Rubén Darío. She works as an editor for the Hispanic section of iliteratura.cz and helps organize Spanish literary evenings called Luces de Bohemia. She translates from Spanish and English and also teaches these languages, their literature, and cultures. She was nominated for the Josef Jungmann Award in 2009 for her translation of Four Friends by Spanish author David Trueba. Her other Spanish translations include Everyone Leaves by Wendy Guerra, The Goldsmith’s Secret by Elia Barceló, What Your Name Hides by Clara Sánchez, I Love You Because You Feed Me by David Llorente, among others. Her translations of poems by Spanish-speaking authors have been published in magazines such as Host, Babylon, and Plav.
Anežka Charvátová (Prague, 1965) studied Romance languages and is a translator, editor, teacher, and promoter of Latin American literature. She writes reviews, collaborates on literary programs with radio stations (Vltava, Plus, Radio Wave), and moderates discussions with writers at the Cervantes Institute in Prague and at book festivals. She teaches Hispanic literary subjects, publishing practices, translation, and editorial work at the Institute of Translation Studies, Faculty of Arts, Charles University. She translates from French, Italian, but mainly from Spanish, with a preference for Latin American authors. She received the Magnesia Litera Award in 2004 for her translation of The Storyteller by Mario Vargas Llosa and the Josef Jungmann Award in 2013 for her translation of 2666 by Roberto Bolaño.