Very Graphic is an exhibition of works which "tell stories" using images. Illustrated storytelling can take many forms, from comic stripsto animation. The exhibition, which includes many interesting, interactive works, is on at the Bengal Art Lounge until December 7.
Very Graphic: The Art of Storytelling in Graphic Detailwas a collaborative effort between the Bengal Art Lounge and the British Council Arts Team and was supported by Bellissimo Ice-cream. The opening of the exhibition brought together the representatives of the organisations, the participating artists and the High Commissioner of the UK, Robert Gibson.
At the ceremony, Robin Davies, Director of Partnership and Programmes, British Council, Bangladesh mentioned that graphic novels are not to be disregarded as "low" reading material for children which should be discarded in favor of more "serious" reading material. He mentioned the huge potential of graphic storytelling and comics in the classroom and as a development tool.
The CEO of Kazi Foods, Tanvir Haider Chaudhury mentioned his personal interest in the art form and praised the initiative.
The works of 18 artists are featured in the exhibition, which is the first of its kind in Bangladesh. The show includes excerpts from the published novels of visiting artists Karrie Fransman and Steven J Harris, a phenakistoscope by Faridur Rahman Rajib, a short graphic story told in scrolls by Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy and an illustrated Book of opinions by Anika Mariam Ahmed among other works by established and young artists.
The exhibitionwas conceive by Robin Davies, Eshita Azad (British Council) Syed Rashad Imam Tanmoy, Assistant Editor of monthly satire magazine Unmad and cartoonist of Dhaka Tribune, and Katerina Don, Manager of Bengal Art Lounge.
Explaining his graphic short-story The Defeated, Tanmoy said: "My artwork The Defeated is about comic/sequential art, which is neither new to this region nor influenced by Western art. The art of graphic storytelling in Bangladesh can be traced back to the traditional scroll painting of the seventh century. This graphic story is an experiment that blends old scroll painting methods with modern storytelling techniques. Inspired by mythology, the story is about a father and a daughter. But as it unfolds history blends with fantasy.”
An installation by Nuhash Humayun, son of prolific novelist and filmmaker Humayun Ahmed, invites visitors to pick up crumpled up copies of his "discarded material" that spills out like a wave from a suspended trash bin, and to take it away with them. As the pile of paper slowly disappears, the gallery will replenish it. "From my trash can to yours" reads the artist statement.
Samir Asran Rahman of Might Punch Studio exhibited the creative process behind the creation of The Legend of Zooey a comic book and animation about an eight-year old girl name Zooey who has a fantastical, action packed adventure.
They also exhibited some of the process behind their debut work Shabash, a recently launched comic book and soon to be released animation.
Another participant, Kazi Istela Imam, a graphic designer and Dhaka Tribune employee commented on her project The Working Class Superheroes: "The project was a fun way to contextualise the notion of superheroes and to inspire people to see themselves, their friends and relatives as superheroes. We all have a particular talent or value that is very much like a superpower, setting us up to do good and fight injustice if only in our own small ways."
An interesting take on story development is a hyper-story by Asifur Rahman’s. It is a story about a day in the life of a young man, the reader can choses several turns in the plot, but the ending is always the same.
Faridur Rahman Razib built a "phenakistoscope" a 16th century animation device. This is a wonderful addition to the exhibition as it links the works to a long tradition, stretching hundreds of years.
Representing the begging of the cartoon industry in Bangladesh are Rafiqun Nabi with his beloved Tokai series and Shishir Bhattacharjee with original comics published in ProthomAlo. Ahsan Habib, the Editor of Unmad presented a short comic strip and was present at the inauguration.
In the children’s room where the illustrations of celebrated artist Sabysachi Mistry are displayed on the walls, the classic animation The Snowman by Raymon Briggsis playing throughout the exhibition. This is a wonderful occasion for adults and children alike.
The participants of the exhibition are Rafiqun Nabi, Shishir Bhattacharjee, Sabyasachi Mistry, Ahsan Habib, Karrie Fransman, Steven Harris, Anika Mariam Ahmed, Salzar Rahman Rahman, Kazi Istela, Zeeshan Khan, Rio Shuvo and Mehedi Haque.
