Timeless, bold, and unforgettable! 60 years of Argentine comic icon Mafalda

Argentina isn't just about football and tango – it's also about Mafalda!

The iconic Argentine comic Mafalda is being celebrated in a special exhibition "Welcome to the World of Mafalda," opening at the Miguel de Cervantes Library on August 22, and running through October 31.

Born in Argentina in 1964, Mafalda was created by comic master Quino. This little girl, with a bow in her hair, quickly captured the hearts of the Spanish-speaking world and went on to become a global cultural phenomenon.

Today, her image has been immortalized in city sculptures, fashion T-shirts, and films, yet every time you open a comic, her timeless charm continues to shine.

This year, Mafalda turns 60. To mark this milestone, a commemorative exhibition has been organized, with an opening ceremony on Friday, August 22, at 7pm.

The exhibition will showcase Mafalda's classic comic originals, life-sized statues, her friends' characters and recreated scenes of her bedroom and restaurant. Visitors can experience a panoramic view of Mafalda's world alongside her creator, Quino, highlighting 60 years of this influential figure's remarkable journey in Latin American and global comic history.

Mafalda's creator is Argentine cartoonist Joaquín Salvador Lavado (also known as Quino).

Born in Mendoza, Argentina, to Andalusian immigrants, Lavado (1932-2020) dreamed of becoming an artist from the age of three. He studied fine arts in his home province but left before completing his degree to move to the capital, Buenos Aires.

His first comic book was published in 1954, but it wasn't until ten years later that Mafalda – his most famous work – appeared. On September 29, 1964, the witty, satirical little girl debuted in the weekly magazine Primer Planta.

The Mafalda series ran from 1964 to 1973. During this decade, Quino continually drew inspiration from major global events, such as the Vietnam War, the Cuban Revolution, the 1968 Paris protests, the Cold War, and shifts in the world order. Through Mafalda and her friends, he addressed issues that many adults dared not speak about.

From a child's perspective, Mafalda portrayed life in 1960s Argentina and Latin America with honesty and insight. She worried about world peace, women's rights, and the rights of the poor. Her questions, reflections and ideas spread widely, inspiring a generation of young middle-class South Americans – and continue to resonate today.

The Mafalda series first captivated Latin America and then the world, translated into over 30 languages, including Hebrew, Guaraní, Armenian and even Braille.

If you go:

Dates: August 22-October 31

Opening hours: 11am-6:30pm

Venue: Miguel de Cervantes Library | 上海塞万提斯学院

Address: 208 Anfu Rd | 安福路208号

Admission: Free

The opening ceremony is also open to the public on Friday, August 22, at 7pm.