Land of Mirrors by María Medem in New York
Spanish illustrator María Medem joins “MoCCA Arts Fest 2025” in NYC, presenting “Land of Mirrors” and engaging in panels, signings, and discussions on art.
Spanish illustrator and graphic novelist María Medem will be one of the special guests at the MoCCA Arts Fest 2025, New York’s premier festival for independent comics and cartoon art. The event, organized by the Society of Illustrators, will take place on March 15-16 at the Metropolitan Pavilion in Manhattan.
The MoCCA Arts Fest is a key event in the international comics scene, showcasing the work of both emerging and established artists in graphic novels, illustration, and cartooning. It provides a platform for creators to share their work, engage with audiences, and discuss the evolving landscape of independent comics.
Medem, known for her distinctive visual storytelling and dreamlike narratives, will present her latest work, Land of Mirrors, published by Drawn & Quarterly. This graphic novel, celebrated for its evocative use of color and minimalist yet powerful compositions, explores themes of solitude, reflection, and connection through a mesmerizing journey into an otherworldly landscape. During the festival, she will participate in panel discussions, book signings, and meet-and-greet sessions, offering audiences a unique insight into her creative process.
Book signings
- On Saturday, March 15, from 2 pm to 3 pm. Maria Medem & Edward Steed signing.
- On Saturday, March 15, from 4 pm to 5 pm. Maria Medem & Adrian Tomine signing.
- On Sunday, March 16, from 2:30 pm to 4 pm. Maria Medem signing.
- All signings take place at the D&Q booth in the Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 W 18th St.
Color, Composition, and Emotion
- On Sunday, March 16 at 1:30 pm. Brian Blomerth & María Medem at Space One, 133 West 21st St.
- As AI-generated images encroach upon the domain of art, art’s irreplaceable role as a site of emotional connection and meaning-making for human beings becomes more evidently precious. Brian Blomerth (Bicycle Day) and María Medem (Land of Mirrors) are both artists whose personal approaches to color and composition evoke and elicit pronounced emotional states. Blomerth’s psychedelic color palettes evoke psychological responses to experimental pharmacology, while Medem’s rich, minimalist images are a conscious oasis of calm in a troubled time. Art director Alexandra Zsigmond will lead a conversation with these artists.
Land of Mirrors
Antonia is the sole inhabitant of a deserted town, with only a roaming pack of dogs and her own worn out memories to keep her company. Nothing is new in this world, the ponds are so still they are dead, and her recollections feel more vivid than her surroundings. At times, the isolation is unbearable. Until she meets her flower. Her flower gives her purpose: a reason to get up each morning, to ring the bells of the town, to wake up the fields, and to feel alive. And yet a relentless thought eats away at her—what will happen once her flower dies?
Her quest to save the flower begins alongside a charming traveler from the land of mirrors. The pair embark on a journey filled with music, swimming holes, and folk tales whispered late into the starry night. They march through the fields to the beat of turtledove calls, occasionally stopping to get drunk off the fruits of the strawberry tree. Slowly Antonia opens up to the world beyond her town, to the people who inhabit it—and to the endless possibilities of community and friendship.
Translated from Spanish by Aleshia Jensen and Daniela Ortiz.
Maria Medem’s book is strange, in the best possible way. For a while, in the middle, I got lost in the labyrinth and broken mirrors. Then the ending wallops you with emotion. I’m humbled by a book like this—the visuals, in general, blow my mind. A beautiful and mesmerizing work of art.
—Craig Thompson
María Medem
María Medem (1994) was born and lives in Seville, Spain. She began self-publishing fanzines after completing her fine arts studies. She’s been published by Terry Bleu (Netherlands), Studio Fidèle (France), and Apa Apa Cómics (Spain). Her latest two books, Cénit and Por Culpa de una Flor, (the Spanish edition of Land of Mirrors), were published by Apa Apa, the latter in collaboration with Blackie Books. In between comics work, María also spends time illustrating, animating, and going on walks with her greyhound.