Le Gull Yettin

There are probably a thousand ways to tell a Joe Kessler book. To enjoy reading it, one must be willing to surrender to the flamboyant colors and the enigmatic narrative of his stories. An astonishing blend of prosaic and mythical elements, Le Gull Yettin, an entirely wordless tale, propels us into a world that is both magical and familiar.

Le Gull Yettin features the spirit of a seagull, a small child and a woman. There is an explosion, a river of lava, a large, gangly and disturbing bird with speckled fur and a straw hat, pee on a bowl, a train trip, revenge, a bunch of kids, an enchanting nature, waves, cruelty and tenderness.

Using felt-tip pens, pencils, computers or watercolors, Joe Kessler mixes techniques, in an expressionist and unbridled style, to evoke here a child’s run, there the reflection of a train in the meanders of a river, the sparks of an explosion or the reassuring glow of a window in the night. With Le Gull Yettin, he signs a sensory and bewitching stroll with a lively rhythm.