Maya Zankoul (
Arabic: مايا زنقول) (born 30 June 1986 in
Hasbaya,
Lebanon) is a
Lebanese author, visual artist,
blogger and television personality mostly known for her sarcastic
cartoons and comics published in her books and her popular
webcomic blog, Amalgam.[1][2]
In 2009, she started her comic blog, Amalgam, where she shares
illustrations commenting on daily life in Lebanon from a
socio-political point of view.[3]
She self-published her first book, Amalgam, in 2009,[4] which reached Top 5 in sales at
Virgin Megastore.[5]
In summer 2010, after touring Lebanon with her exhibition Amalgame,[6] she published her second book, Amalgam Vol. 2.[7]
In January 2011, she founded her own design studio in Beirut,.[8] The Italian translation of her books is published by publishing house
Il Sirente, in their Altriarabi series, and the books were launched at the Pisa Book Festival 2011.[9]
In April 2013, she co-founded explainer video company
wezank.[10]
Zankoul made her first major television debut with a segment aiming at teaching social media to stay-at-home women entitled Bwa2ta.[17] The segment premiered in August 2012 and still runs every Tuesday on
Future Television.
Exhibitions
"Samneh w 3asal" (2011) At Tawlet Souk el Tayeb (Beirut)[18][19][20]
"Amalgame" (2009, 2010) At the French Culture Center, (Beirut, Saida, Tripoli, Deir el Qamar and Zahle centers)[6]
Other work
Zankoul actively participates in illustration in local and regional events. She did live illustrations at the Arabnet 2010 conference and at the 17e Salon du Livre Francophone de Beyrouth[21][22]
In September 2013, she participated to a talk titled "War, Not A Serious Issue" with
Paolo Di Giannantonio in
Lucera, Italy at the occasion of the Mediterranean Culture Festival.[27]