Sunday I was invited to go to ELCAF the East London Comics and Arts festival. I’m interested in the world of small publishing and zines, partly because a few people have commented that my work might lend itself to publication but also because making trips around the galleries it has become clear that there is a trend towards producing small products to sell in the gallery shops. Small products also means that more people can own and enjoy your art work and they are more affordable and accessible.
So, I networked like crazy, asked lots of stupid questions because I know nothing about the word of comic books and picked up everyone’s card. I also took note of the kind of small products people were offering. People were SO friendly and eager to share their passion, it was truly inspiring.
My favourite exhibitor (and the standard was sky high, so I could list dozen of extremely talented people) was Stathis Tsemberlidis of Decadence Comics. I pick his work out particularly because of the abstract and surreal nature of his narratives which use no words and his beautifully delicate drawing style. The space he leaves for interpretation and the visceral content made my experience of his work more akin to engaging with a artwork rather than a graphic novel/comic
I bought Upheaval and Neptune’s Fungi
http://www.decadencecomics.com/about
