What Is It?
Kadak Reading Room is a comic exhibit and a travelling library which will showcase self-published comics, zines and art at The Cuckoo Club in Mumbai from 3 December to 6 December. It's organised by Kadak, an artist initiative started off by a group of South Asian women who convey their art via different mediums of art, including sharp observations in their comics.
Who Is It For?
Everyone - and we mean it. The Reading Room is an all accepting space with a focus on 'A History of Women in Comics' and we think men, women, LGBTQ - all communities must and engage themselves with Kadak. Garima Gupta, Mumbai-based artist and illustrator tells us how their aim is to talk about feminism through their comics but in a way that is accessible and informative for everyone.
The Reading Room stemmed from an event 'Gender Bender' that happened earlier in 2016 that brought all the Kadak Collective members to create these illustrated comics and zines. The Reading Room, is then, an enclosed space with racks of comics, zines and artwork which will be showcased at The Cuckoo Club.
The featured artists include: Aindri Chakraborty {for her comic blog 'There Was A Brown Crow' wherein her socio-political stances mix well wit her humorus observations}, Akhila Krishnan {an illustrator and comics artist shuffling between London and India}, Janine Shroff {illustrator and designer who works both in India and London whilst exploring and creating art on themes of birth, relationships, sexual identity and gender}, Aarthi Parthasarathy {Bengaluru-based filmmaker and writer - known for her webcomics 'Royal Existenials}, Garima Gupta {whose recent comic chronicles her South-East Asian travels when she got a boy cut}, Pavithra Dikshit {designer, artist and co-founder of Postcard People}, Kaveri Gopalkrishnan {indie comics maker and illustrator who deals with themes of self-understanding, and the mundane routines - also co-created a web comic series 'UrbanLore' alongwith Aarthi}, and lastly Mira Malhotra {a Mumbai-based visual artist and designer and founder of Studio Kohl}.
Why Should I Go?
To understand the concepts surrounding the tribulations of South Asian women being tackled in such an intelligent, humourous and a splendid way. On 3 December, the Reading Room will be inaugurated with a talk and a presentation on 'A History of Women in Comics' by Aarthi Parthasarathy followed by a round of Q&A. It'll explore the history of comic creators, the representation of women in comics and so much more. An extremely relevant exhibition in today's time, especially for the women in India.
So, We're Saying…
Step out and engage with these artists and get a glimpse into the world of comics created by these 'Kadak' women. The Reading Room will be accessible till 6 December for anyone to go and read the comics and zines. We'll be there, and so will you?
#LBBTip: Though most of these artists are based outside of India, you may get to buy a few comics and zines - depending on the availability of the stock.
Where: The Cuckoo Club, Bandra West
When: 3 December to 6 December, 2pm onwards
Price: INR 200
Buy the tickets here.
Find Kadak on Facebook here.
Photos source: Kadak