Zsófia Rumi’s risograph comics are like puppet theatre performances

One of the earliest influences for illustrator Zsófia Rumi’s work was the world of live puppet theatre. “I was lucky enough to be surrounded by puppets and storytelling from a very young age, as both of my parents are puppeteers,” she shares. “I would say this upbringing is one of the major influences on my work.” Still fascinated by the art, she sometimes works as a puppeteer and a puppet designer alongside her playful illustration work.

Zsófia’s main focus for her practice, however, is printmaking. During her study of the subject at university in Hungary, Zsófia discovered Risograph and fell in love with the process. So much so that she founded a small press and publishing house – Hurrikan Press in 2014, alongside her partner Árpád Szigeti in Budapest. The duo publish zines by local and international artists with a focus on street art, alternative comics and drawing. Alongside riso they also make use of monotypes and lino in their printmaking practice. “One of my favourite formats is the one page comic”, says Zsófia. “I am especially excited if I can somehow manage to draw a “loop”, something that starts and ends on the same panel”.

Featuring a lot of soft puppet-like characters with funny little outfits, Zsófia’s illustrated narratives are wonderfully decorative and full of the fantasy worlds; they feel like they came straight out of the small theatre sets of her childhood. But these one page Riso stories don’t just take from the illustrator’s love of early and contemporary puppet, Zsófia tells us her work is also inspired by the Hungarian illustrator László Réber and her many cycle rides around Budapest.