Nicoz Balboa's graphic memoir 'Play with Fire' explores gender identity

Nicoz Balboa, a Roman artist whose surname echoes the famous boxer, has published 'Play with Fire' (Oblomov Edizioni, 2020), a graphic memoir that chronicles a woman's search for identity, particularly sexual identity. The book, priced at €20 and spanning 204 pages, is a follow-up to her earlier work 'Born to Lose' and employs a diary-like drawing style described as 'ugly' to freely explore smiles, doubts, and insecurities. Balboa, who also creates illustrations, tattoos, and teaches bimonthly Zoom courses on graphic diary practice, considers the book not a diary but a result of writing and rewriting her personal experience and reflecting on identity. She notes that while 'Born to Lose' was a selection of her graphic notebooks, 'Play with Fire' required preparatory analytical work due to its intimate subject. The artist, who has been self-publishing since age sixteen, emphasizes the importance of discussing gender in 2020 to prevent anyone from feeling isolated or out of place. She reports that reactions to the book have surprised her, as it resonates not only with LGBTQ+ individuals but also with people who feel out of place in various contexts. The full interview was published in Artribune Magazine #57.