Art word

True-life stories from history in graphic format,a new graphic novel which is magical,yet real – in all,it’s a visual & wordy treat

The format may be that of a comic book,but the substance has seen a dramatic shift,from conventional superhero fare or comic capers to works that are mature,literary and symbolic. Fresh and unexplored,the graphic novel format blends striking images with text,one that tells a brand-new story. From Agatha Chrisitie’s murder mysteries in graphic format to India’s very own first graphic novel Sarnath Banerjee’s Corridors,which is based in the corridors of Connaught Place and Calcutta,the novel captures the alienation and fragmented reality of urban life through imaginative blend of text and image. Multi-layered,with amazing images,both black and white and colour,Corridor takes you through the lives of some confused urban youngsters. Kari,by novelist Amruta Patil,and published by Harper Collins is another fine work and tells the story of a androgynous woman who is saved by a sewer after a suicide attempt. Trained at the School of Museum of Fine Art,Boston,Patil has written and illustrated Kari herself and is planning her second graphic novel which,will be based on a “mytho-historical tale.” The latest in the series is Parismita Singh’s illustrated novel,The Hotel At The End of the World,published by Penguin. A native of Assam,Singh’s work is exquisite,in terms of both narrative and artwork. In The Hotel At The End of the World,it is business as usual as Pema dishes up rice and pork curry to travellers,who stop by for a drink and take refuge from the rain. Everyone has a story to tell and at times they end up revealing more than they want to. The novel has influences of oral story-telling and folklore traditions and also Commando war comics to World War II history and Buddhist art. Graphic novels because of images,appeal to a larger audience,and at Browser,besides Corridor,Singh’s The Hotel,Kari…lining up the shelves is a series of graphic non-fiction novels,which explore in a dramatic way true-life stories from history. Each novel in this new series brings to life major historical events and key figures from the past. So,know the life of Anne Frank,Julius Caesar,Leonardo Da Vinci,Christopher Columbus and also great explorers. “These are great to get children interested in history and let them know the life of these great men and women. The graphics are appealing to the eyes and the format is simple and absorbing,” smiles Mona Singh,a parent.