The Mighty Pen

“I had come across the word halahala in Amar Chitra Katha when I was a kid. I was fascinated by the concept. My world had to be named poison.I did not want to create a pretty graphic novel where everything looks beautiful. There are way too many books like that,” says Appupen (aka George Mathen),the Bangalore-based artist who released his book a few months ago.

Moonward documents the birth of Halahala,its evolution and subsequent decline because of the greed-driven inhabitants of the planet. Obviously,Halahala is meant to mirror the nepotism and corruption of our own world,but the clever storyteller in Appupen believes in subtlety. So,Nana,the protagonist of the novel,is an allegorical reference,his shifting allegiances a metaphor for corruption. Money is the tool of power here too; something that taints everything that it touches. “The book is supposed to mirror the real world. It talks about things that are affecting the world. But it’s also a deeply personal work where I talk about things that matter to me,” says Appupen.

And when he talks about his “personal beliefs and concerns”,Appupen becomes George Mathen,a 30-year-old musician-artist from Bangalore who “didn’t know what to do with his life”. “I was studyied Economics in St Xaviers College,Mumbai. I joined an advertising agency soon after I graduated and I was having a good time. But soon I realised that in this world,any kind of art ends up becoming an advertisement for something. No matter what you create it’s about selling something. That’s when I decided to think of an alternate career,” says Mathen. Today,he is a drummer with the popular alternative rock band Lounge Piranha. With his band Mathen creates ‘ambient soundscapes’ which are combined with guitar distortion and are layered on top of a tight rhythm section consisting of drums. “ I use a lot of my artwork in our performances. It’s a kind of visual aid that adds to our music,” he says. Mathen believes that music and visuals share a symbiotic relationship in their performances. “They give meaning to each other,” he adds.

He may have given up a career in advertisement,but he still “uses his art to sell stuff”. “That’s where I earn money from. I paint the walls of concept stores and walls. I’m also a tattoo artist,” he says.

So what made him create a graphic novel. “Like all novelists,I wanted to tell my story. And my narration was incomplete without visuals. I believe that I’m better with visuals than words,” he smiles. Is that why his debut novel is almost bereft of conversations? “That was an intentional dramatic style. In my next,I plan to do away with the text. It will be all about visuals,” he says.