Japanese Warriors and Oscar Wilde Unveiled Without Restraints: A Discussion by Benjamin Lacombe and Sebastian Perez
Benjamin Lacombe and Sébastien Perez Return to Buenos Aires with a Twist on Oscar Wilde's Classic Novel
Artistic duo Benjamin Lacombe and Sébastien Perez are back in Buenos Aires, ready to shake things up at the Book Fair. Their latest projects include a bold, uncensored version of Oscar Wilde's classic novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and an engaging, original piece titled "Stories of Women Samurai".
These talented creators have made more than ten publications together, including the likes of Frida, The Herbarium of the Fairies, Cat Portraits, and Nightingale. The pair forms a formidable team that delivers captivating and thought-provoking work. Here, they share their thoughts on these new projects with our team at Cultura.
How did the production of The Picture of Dorian Gray come about? Was it your own idea or a commission?
Benjamin Lacombe: Truth be told, commissions don't really drive my work (laughs). It's more about a personal motivation, what I feel about that text. Plus, this book is part of a collection I direct, so it made perfect sense.
Does this include decisions about the text, with what had been "hidden" before?
B. L.: Absolutely. It was a conscious decision, and hours of labor went into it. To be honest, I wanted to publish the text as Oscar Wilde would have wanted it first published. The book underwent two censors, one during its magazine format release, and another when it became a book. Wilde himself, facing a mutilated text on its second occurrence, added six more chapters. Yet, there had never been a publication of the original manuscript, including those six chapters, until now. I worked with Xavier Giudicelli and Merlin Holland, Wilde's grandson, on this project.
How should this edition be interpreted in an era when ‘cancel culture’ theories are prevalent?
B. L.: Publishing a censored book from its time is undoubtedly a political act. It's about addressing the persecution of artists with homosexual ideas or even being homosexual themselves, a situation that still exists today. We live in an era where censorship exists, with forbidden words and books being some examples. Making this edition available gives a voice to those who were silenced in the past.
How did you think of making a story of women samurai?
B. L.: There's a text by author Ryū Tōgō that discusses four women samurai, but he portrays them in a patriarchal, macho light, with the underlying message that they would have been better off at home. Perhaps what is surprising about all this is that such situations lead to self-censorship. One starts questioning one's ability to create freely. So, the goal with these books is to open doors for female Japanese authors, allowing them the opportunity to write, think, and produce.
Sébastien Perez: Exactly, it's about amplifying voices that need to be heard. The idea is to always convey positive messages, because there's also a message in children's literature. It could be a message of tolerance. It could be interesting to present female heroines, as children might resist to it. Ultimately, it's vital to talk about strong women today.
B. L.: Over the past ten years, I've observed a significant regression in women's rights. Issues like legal, safe abortion are being attacked in certain states in the United States. Denying these basic rights starts to rob women of their freedom. It's a kind of historic turning point. Discussing these fighting women in Japan can help inspire others to continue the fight for their rights.
Paradoxically, despite small gains, it's still insufficient, isn't it?
B. L.: These books are created for the benefit of humanity. I genuinely believe that twenty years ago, women could travel dressed as they wanted, and homosexuals could do the same. But that's not the case today. There's a resurgence of certain religious beliefs that deny the equality of women. And what these characters have in common, whether they are samurai women, Dorian, or any other characters we've created, is that they are characters who fight for their freedom, who have something to claim.
Retaking "The Picture of Dorian Gray", Benjamin, how did you construct the identity of the character of Dorian from your perspective?
B. L.: It didn't all come from within. In the end, one always looks inward, sees what resonates within the character. Specifically for "Dorian," I drew inspiration from "Death in Venice," focusing on the protagonist Tadeo, and blending elements of "Dorian" to create "my" Dorian. Reading Wilde's own "De profundis" when he met his lover, Alfred Douglas, there's an undeniable attraction. With all these elements, I had a foundation to build the character. Dorian had this magnetic appeal that left an impact on everyone he met.
He was with Oscar while he was serving him. For some reason, he eventually testified against him.
B. L.: Since he couldn't see Douglas in person, Wilde wrote to him from prison ("De profundis"). And it wasn't your typical prison either, nor even something like today’s prisons. Instead, Wilde's cell lacked windows and a bathroom. He was only allowed outside once a week to a courtyard. When he was released from prison, he was no longer the shadow of Wilde.
Now, returning to "Tales of Samurai Women", since there were no texts written by women, how was the production, the creation?
S. P.: To be honest, it was a joint effort. The task involved selecting the women we would discuss. Benjamin served as a valuable guide in that regard. Once we identified them, there was further investigation on my part. The research started with the engravings, identifying the periods, and the historical context. Through these engravings, the names of the samurai women were also visible, allowing us to learn more about their lives.
I'd like to wrap up, since it's almost an obligatory question in the current world, and it has nothing to do with these books being presented, but it does relate to your work – the topic of artificial intelligence.
-[Laughter]
-Is it complicated for you?
B.L.: It's certainly a challenge. Artificial intelligence brings several concerns. One of the primary issues is the lack of regulation. Today, artificial intelligence steals ideas, it doesn't create anything original. Big entities like Tesla and SpaceX are using AI to monopolize information, profiting from others' work.
Another problem is the impact on artistic creation. We were talking about our investigations for these books, and it's clear that AI provides one answer. It doesn't generate new ideas; it only offers a single option, which lacks the depth and breadth of human thought. It limits our ability to explore beyond that one result. Finally, who is behind artificial intelligence? Elon Musk, for example, raises ethical questions.
So, the current challenges involve understanding how AI will be regulated, learning to work alongside it, and figuring out how to manage it. The eventual goal is to turn AI into just another useful tool in our daily lives, like a spoon or a cell phone.
- Benjamin Lacombe and Sébastien Perez's latest projects, including a bold version of Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray and an original piece titled "Stories of Women Samurai," are set to grace the Book Fair in Buenos Aires.
- Benjamin Lacombe reveals that the production of The Picture of Dorian Gray was driven by personal motivation rather than a commission, and he aimed to publish the text as Oscar Wilde would have wanted it first published, including the six additional chapters added by Wilde himself.
- The duo discusses how their edition of The Picture of Dorian Gray can serve as a political statement in contemporary society, addressing historical and ongoing censorship of artists, especially those with homosexual ideas or identities.
- The creative team's other project, "Stories of Women Samurai," aims to provide a platform for female Japanese authors, providing an opportunity to write, think, and produce, ultimately amplifying voices that need to be heard.
- Benjamin Lacombe and Sébastien Perez also share their concerns about artificial intelligence, discussing the lack of regulation, its theft of ideas, and its impact on artistic creation, ultimately calling for a better understanding of how AI can be regulated and integrated into our daily lives.
