The world of comics, graphic novels, and illustrations in Southeast Asia has been gaining its fair share of global attention. These visual mediums have provided markers of national identity, such as that found in Lat’s cartoons, and have continuously informed our imaginations and realities. But what is it that makes these ways of storytelling so treasured? And how do they inform our collective and individual ways of seeing and thinking? Join Eisner award-winning comic artist, Erica Eng and New Naratif Comics and Illustrations Editor, Charis Loke as we explore these question and their personal approaches to the visual form.

Speakers: Karl Nadzarin, Erica Eng, Charis Loke

Notes:

1. For more on the idea of drawing as seeing and thinking, see John Berger's wonderful essays 'To Take Paper, To Draw' and 'The Basis of All Painting and Sculpture is Drawing' which can both be found in the Verso publication of Landscapes: John Berger on Art.



2. Charis's Bersih rally sketches can be found here, while her GE14 sketches are on New Naratif (A Tale of Three Ceramahs; A Little Night Music; A Nation Votes).



3. Read Shaun Tan's thoughts on his seminal wordless graphic novel The Arrival, in particular, what he says about the intuitive resonance of looking at pictures as well as where he's pulling his visual references from. See also the wordless novels from the 1910s-1930s in woodcuts by Frans Masereel, like The City (Die Stadt) and Passionate Journey (Mon livre d'heures).



4. SOUND: A Comics Anthology

Co-edited by Budjette Tan and Charis Loke; published by Difference Engine

A collection of thirteen comics by Southeast Asian creators; visit the microsite to learn more about their process and how the anthology came together.

5. Follow Erica's award-winning comic and blog for updates.