From early childhood, Guillermo Rigoberto Casola Marcos spent his free time copying photographs and illustrations from magazines, a passion that would remain with him throughout his life. As a young adult, he divided his time between secondary-school studies and odd jobs with a decorating team specializing in the refurbishment of hair salons in Havana.
Over time, his draftsmanship became more assured, and his style came to evoke the spirit of unconventional comic art. Rather than adhering to the linear narrative structure of a story, Rigo — as he is commonly known — turned to collage, a medium that enabled him to intertwine personal and political events on recycled paper or materials salvaged from the streets and rubbish bins.
To support himself, he engaged in an activity well known in Cuba, known as “tanquero” (from the Spanish word meaning “oil tanker”): he spent part of his days collecting plastic bottles, cans, and other recyclable materials, which he later sold.