The future of the comic movement is undergoing a renaissance with the Comic exhibit by Appupen (George Mathen), Gokul Gopalakrishnan and EP Unny. The Galleryskye in Langford Town witnessed a gala time on Saturday when aficionados of all ages sauntered in to the halls adorned with fiery cityscapes, anti-super heroes and the bourgeois life. An exhibit titled ‘The Flaneur in the City’ was conceptualised by the idea of subjectivity in comic interpretation. The word Flaneur means wanderer and is derived from the French word which means ‘to stroll’. The comic is no longer exclusive to fan boys (and girls); it is art that deserves a second (and third) look as one wanders through its portals.
Unny’s niche was an ode to Fort Kochi.
A panel slideshow of sketches devoted to the one square-mile town was accompanied by ambient sounds recorded on the streets of Kochi itself. The experience was akin to a dream that was being controlled by the veteran artist. Unny believes, “The cartoon is not just an image; sounds are very much a part of the package. The bustle of the city had to be portrayed with sound. Each layer of the old fishing town has been influenced by the Portuguese, Dutch and British invaders but its enigma is still a well of inspiration for the artistic mind.”
The effort of the organisers certainly did not go unnoticed as the turnout was impressive. Rashmi Sawhney, India Foundation for the Arts, said “It’s really cool what they’ve done here.” Another patron said she would love to buy their artwork. The comic art scene certainly has something to expect; the revolution has begun.
