#december 1989

US Vogue December 1989

Ben-Ric Furs

Photo P. Martinière

Sort of manga for the 20th year anniversary of the magazine belonging to the team behind Otaku festival, soon to be published. One of the oldest trees, in the Romanian capital city, almost burned down around 4 years ago, leaving behind a hollow inside. Ever since the incident, a piece of metal is strapped to its side, turning it into an occasional refuge for the homeless. This is the roughly translated version, the printed one is in Romanian.

The alt manga is about the spirit of a world living on the outskirts, almost forgotten by the hijacked revolution's aftermath. To look forward, this homeless grandfather keeps in mind the words of Lena Constante as well as the old-survivor-tree's lessons of life.

☯︎ This December marks 35 years since the Revolution of 1989, back when Ceaușescu's dictatorship ended. Nationalism, coupled with nostalgia for the by-gone Communist era, alongside homophobe outbursts and pro-extreme right Legionari fanatics have bombarded our everyday scrollable realities and, according to some, almost lead to a second Mineriad. Meanwhile, the presidential elections've been rescheduled for spring 2025.