Press Release from Bildmuseet

Comics of the North

[2013-05-03] As part of the event 'Kulturnatta' in Umeå, Bildmuseet will celebrate one year at Umeå Arts Campus. We will inaugurate Comics of the North, an exhibition of original drawings, sketches and sections of comic strips by eight different comics artists.

Comics are a combination of visual art and literature. There are currently several different genres – autobiographical, documentary, journalistic and fictional stories in which the images are as important as the text.

Comics of the North presents eight comics artists with different visual and narrative styles, who make comics for adults. They all have ties to the north of Sweden, and the region even features in some of the pieces in the exhibition.

The participating comics artists are Max Andersson, Gerd Aurell, René Engström, Anneli Furmark, Armita Ghazinezam, Joanna Hellgren, Mats Jonsson and Sofia Karlström. While the exhibition is ongoing, Bildmuseet is offering workshops, lectures and educational activities to inspire visitors and school groups to create their own comic strip.

Comics of the North is produced by Bildmuseet in collaboration with the Skellefteå Art Gallery and illustrator Jonas Lidström Isegrim.

Press preview, Thursday 16 May 10:00

Gerd Aurell, Anneli Furmark and Armita Ghazinezam will participate in the press viewing.

Opening, Saturday 18 May 19:00

Most of the comics artists will be present at the opening and will sign their books over the course of the evening. The artist Gerd Aurell, who is also participating in the exhibition, will perform Good Breathing, together with the flautist Karin Aurell.

Parts of the exhibition will go on tour

A smaller version of the exhibition Comics of the North will tour in Västerbotten County, starting in November 2013. The touring exhibition will also offer educational art activities and workshops.