Yesterday I went to have a look at the 'Comix Creatrix' exhibition at the House of Illustration. I wasn't really sure what to expect as I don't have a massive knowledge about the comic book industry and sequential art in general, and I kind of feel like you have to sort of be a 'comic book nerd' (not being judgemental-they are cool!) to appreciate comics.
I was excited as well as the exhibition was focused on Women, which made me even more curious. Would the illustration featured focus on feminist themes? Would it just be about women superheroes? (terrible assumption I know)
I also wasn't allowed to take photographs
Things that I learnt that I didn't know/realise previously:
- Comics go WAY back. A lot of sequential art was inspired by 18th century artist William Hogarth, with his series of eight sequential paintings entitled 'A Rake's Progress'. His work has been described as 'the ancestor to the storyboard'
- For comics to flourish; artists, writers, inkers, editors were all essential contributors, women were playing parts with all of these roles since the very beginning
- Very often, the vanished past is bought back into focus through photographs, which don't always help relive the mood
- Comix Creatrix draws on a wealth of visual/textual resources to help illustrate the 'bigger picture'
- Todays history is recorded by cartoon journalists, graphic reportage, and political commentators (satire)
- Infographics and art therapy in the context of comics are proving really effective, and are a strong method of communicating and expressing challenging topics
Personal Matters
- Self disclosure used to be viewed as impossible within commercial comics as they are a product for escapism, entertainment and larger-than-life characters. Although underground comix turned this around, as well as the breakthrough of themes by artists such as charlotte saloman etc.
- Hand-rendered writing and making in autobiographical comics created a sense of immediacy and intimacy
- The reader is in the company of one person revealing their story, so through words and pictures, artists are able to convey shifting, contrasting states of mind and reality
- Poignant, harrowing memoirs=multiple self portraiture
Top 3 Artists/Pieces
Maria Stoian- 'Take it as a compliment'
All of the books I looked at today were incredibly moving, focusing on challenging/taboo/controversial themes.
Take it as a Compliment by Maria Stoian is a collection of anonymous stories received over tumblr, emails and interviews. Each story is bought to life through Stoians beautiful heart felt and emotive illustrations, which express the complex emotions of people who have been victims of sexual abuse.
"The stories clearly show that assault of any type is not an honour bestowed on anyone. It is not a compliment".
This book was a real eye opener. Through the sequential narrative format, it really captured the painfully pressuring and soul-shattering atmosphere created in an abusive situation. The colour scheme and tone of voice that Stoian has chosen to use within her illustrations have a strong, contemporary and slight sense of naivety about them, which really speaks volumes to an audience of young adults and teenagers.
What was most upsetting was the fact of how much, and how easily abuse actually happens, which is so much more than I presumed. Although Take it as a Compliment can make readers more aware of abusive situations, and support and advice that is available to those who need it.
Claudia Dàvila- 'Child Soldier' (written by Michel Chikwanine and Jessica Dee Humphries
Child Soldier tells the story of Michel, a happy five year old boy living in the Democratic Republic of Congo, until he was abducted and forced to become a child soldier for a brutal rebel militia. Luckily, Michel manages to escape and return to his family, but he was never the same again. Michel was encouraged to share his story with others when he emigrated to Canada, in order to raise awareness about child soldiers around the world.
Wow. This book was powerful. I literally had no idea that terrible acts such as these actually happened in the world, it is actually sickening. It made me feel like I take a lot for granted living in the UK, and I will start appreciating things a lot more now. Yes it had that much of an impact on me! The most harrowing part of the book was when Michel was adapting to the Western culture, when he was on a bus and hearing people complaining that 'their phone charger wasn't long enough' and that they 'didn't get their allowance on time', and it was HORRIBLE. (I try not to whine and moan about things that don't matter like that, but people still do everyday and it must create such an awful impression of Western people which makes me really sad)
Similar to Take it as a Compliment, this book is SO important because it raises awareness about the corruptions that take place in this world, and what we can do to support those who are victimised. As well, it teaches us to be grateful and open minded, which is such an important life lesson. I absolutely loved this book so much! The only criticism I would give, is that I would have maybe liked to have seen more hand crafted methods within the illustrations; the digital painting is so beautiful but I feel like the Western technological/digital finish doesn't have the strongest connection with the routes of the book etc.
Katie Green- 'Lighter Than My Shadow'
*Trigger Warning!*
Take it as a Compliment by Maria Stoian is a collection of anonymous stories received over tumblr, emails and interviews. Each story is bought to life through Stoians beautiful heart felt and emotive illustrations, which express the complex emotions of people who have been victims of sexual abuse.
"The stories clearly show that assault of any type is not an honour bestowed on anyone. It is not a compliment".
This book was a real eye opener. Through the sequential narrative format, it really captured the painfully pressuring and soul-shattering atmosphere created in an abusive situation. The colour scheme and tone of voice that Stoian has chosen to use within her illustrations have a strong, contemporary and slight sense of naivety about them, which really speaks volumes to an audience of young adults and teenagers.
What was most upsetting was the fact of how much, and how easily abuse actually happens, which is so much more than I presumed. Although Take it as a Compliment can make readers more aware of abusive situations, and support and advice that is available to those who need it.
Claudia Dàvila- 'Child Soldier' (written by Michel Chikwanine and Jessica Dee Humphries
Child Soldier tells the story of Michel, a happy five year old boy living in the Democratic Republic of Congo, until he was abducted and forced to become a child soldier for a brutal rebel militia. Luckily, Michel manages to escape and return to his family, but he was never the same again. Michel was encouraged to share his story with others when he emigrated to Canada, in order to raise awareness about child soldiers around the world.
Wow. This book was powerful. I literally had no idea that terrible acts such as these actually happened in the world, it is actually sickening. It made me feel like I take a lot for granted living in the UK, and I will start appreciating things a lot more now. Yes it had that much of an impact on me! The most harrowing part of the book was when Michel was adapting to the Western culture, when he was on a bus and hearing people complaining that 'their phone charger wasn't long enough' and that they 'didn't get their allowance on time', and it was HORRIBLE. (I try not to whine and moan about things that don't matter like that, but people still do everyday and it must create such an awful impression of Western people which makes me really sad)
Similar to Take it as a Compliment, this book is SO important because it raises awareness about the corruptions that take place in this world, and what we can do to support those who are victimised. As well, it teaches us to be grateful and open minded, which is such an important life lesson. I absolutely loved this book so much! The only criticism I would give, is that I would have maybe liked to have seen more hand crafted methods within the illustrations; the digital painting is so beautiful but I feel like the Western technological/digital finish doesn't have the strongest connection with the routes of the book etc.
Katie Green- 'Lighter Than My Shadow'
*Trigger Warning!*
It's hard to believe, but this book was even more emotional than Child Soldier. I picked this whacking great chunky book up from the shelf and realised it was a graphic novel and I was excited because I've never read a graphic novel before! I was expecting to spend about ten minutes flicking through, but I actually spend an hour and a half reading it...
So anyway, Lighter Than My Shadow was written and illustrated by Katie Green whilst she was suffering and recovering from anorexia. It is described as 'A memoir of eating disorders, abuse and recovery' which honestly and emotionally portrays Katie's experience of what it is like to 'trip into the black heart of a taboo illness'.
I can see a pattern forming of me becoming more and more interested in illustrations that help to raise awareness of subjects and areas that are not commonly known about, ignored or really misunderstood. But I just love books that are focused on people, their experiences and behaviour!
Anorexia, like most other mental illnesses is often completely misunderstood, which can make it ten times harder for sufferers to cope and get the support they need to recover. I first brushed upon the topic of eating disorders when I was about nine in a Jacqueline Wilson book (of course) when one of the stories mentioned "I got two slices of birthday cake, because an anorexic girl gave me hers". So naturally, I asked my Mum what an 'anorexic girl' was, and she told me that they were "silly girls who don't eat because they want to be skinny". Looking back I am SO cross with my Mum for wording it this way because it made it sound like the illness is a CHOICE when it absolutely is NOT,(my mum isn't a horrible person haha, maybe she just worded it in the best way you can to a nine year old).
But the point is, if more people actually understood how severe and how devastating eating disorders can be, then sufferers would feel so much less alienated, and lead happier and healthier lives. Anyway I am ranting. The real point is, that Katie Green has absolutely astoundingly illustrated all of the aspects and experiences in life, from quite a young age, that can have a devastating affect on a persons relationship with food and the dark depths of despair that it is so easy to fall into.
As anorexia is a psychiatric illness, sufferers can often experience really frightening things like hearing voices, hallucinating, having body dysmorphia etc which is absolutely soul destroying, and as well really difficult to understand if you haven't had those experiences before. Green's simplistic and delicate style of illustration portrays this so accurately with the use of fine lines, simple facial expressions enhanced by using lines, and also the symbolic scribble that represents the times that the dark and scary thoughts intrude her mind and stop her from living her life.
I could write a whole essay about how wonderful this graphic novel is. Again to raise awareness of the severity of eating disorders, and how you can support a friend or relative who is suffering, and understand their symptoms would honestly make a world of difference. Katie Green you are a phenomenal human being!
Evaluation
I've probably written way too much but this exhibition was so amazing, and I'm so glad I went along. It has taught me how emotive and informative sequential imagery can be as opposed to singular spot illustrations for example, and broken the assumption for me that comic books are not just full of super heroes, and I feel so small minded for saying that.
Comix Creatrix has really inspired me to have a go at making some comics within my work, and also step away from digital production methods for a while as I have been binging on them a bit recently. Hand craft is so important! And I am kicking myself for neglecting it. At the minute, I'm thinking digital is great for professional works that will be distributed on a wide scale, for example packaging for food products, surface patterns for textiles etc, but analogue is so much more personal, especially in a narrative format.
What I will do in response:
- I'd like to write to Katie Green and ask her more about her experience in developing such personal topics within her artwork, and also her experience with running workshops
- TRY DOING SOME COMICS and don't be scared of the whole prospect
- Follow some of the new illustrators and artists I have discovered today
- Keep exploring and learning!
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