Playing pioneers in the field of redefining how comics and illustrations are seen in India, Kadak the collective of South Asian women who work with graphic storytelling will be in the city this week beginning Wednesday.
The contemporary graphic storytelling scene has evolved to a level to create a better impact among audiences who in the past thought comics were an exclusive medium for children with a limited understanding simplified for a younger age, clarified Aarathi Parthasarathy, who will represent the collective, along with Garima Gupta, for multiple sessions at the British Council this week.
Elaborating on the Reading Room themed 'Overlooked Heroines in the Past and Imagining Heroines for the Future,' Aarathi pointed out how stories including women characters and artists within and in developing comics have evolved over time. "Even though it is like a continuum at a larger scale, representation of women has now advanced towards women-centric narratives rather than being mere plot points to move the narrative. More women artists are being encouraged to engage more in the field of art. This in fact contributes towards empowering lesser-known narratives to garner more traction," she told Deccan Chronicle.
Apart from the exhibition of the travelling library which includes 40 independent self-published comics, zines and art by women collaborators of the Kadak Collective which will take place on Wednesday, a talk on 'Women and Gender in Comics,' and a zine-workshop is slated at the same venue in the city for Sunday.
Explaining the importance of such collaborations in re-shaping the patriarchal mindset instilled in our societies towards something that is gender-neutral, Aarathi adds shouldering the responsibility of the same being an artist is huge.
"The media and art we consume are direct reflections of what the society is in true nature and vice-versa. As creators of art, each piece is completed with a sense of responsibility as the kind of patriarchy which affected women in the past has now exponentially changed, thanks to the continuous efforts of many women stepping into the field," she said.
The events are lined up as part of 'Creating Heroines,' a collaborative international project initiated by the British Council for their 70th year celebrations.
