Paul Gravett: Manhua! China Comics Now

MANHUA! CHINA COMICS NOW:
EVENTS

CHINA COMICS NOW: STUDY DAY
Date: Tuesday 25 March 2008
Time: 9:30am to 5:30pm, reception 6.00pm to 7:30pm
Venue: LCC Lecture Theatre

This is a unique opportunity to meet and learn from the creators of manhua and publishers, curators and experts in this flourishing medium. The Study Day will provide an informative, accessible, English-language introduction to the traditions and revolutions, the great masters and the dynamic innovators, behind the past thirty years of comics in China, from classical histories and legends and mass-market martial arts through to modern trends in satire, self-expression and the new underground alternatives.

Specially invited guests will include Benjamin, Nie Chongrui, Zhang Xiaoyu and Qian Yu from mainland China, and Lily Lau, Craig Au Yeung, Connie Lam and Rachel Lo from Hong Kong, plus Patrick Abry from France and Mr Clement, Yishan Li, Coco Wang and TH (Tim) Yu and others based in the UK. The Study Day is chaired and introduced by Paul Gravett, curator of the Manhua exhibition.

The Study Day will be followed by a reception between 6.00 to 7.30pm, including book signings and demonstrations of hand-drawn and digital comics creation. The canteen at LCC will be open throughout the day, where you may purchase hot and cold drinks, hot food and sandwiches in the breaks during the day.

This is a free event, with a limited number of seats available. Booking is essential. You may order a maximum of 10 tickets per person. Please RSVP to Rowena Hughes r.g.hughes@lcc.arts.ac.uk stating 'Manhua Study Day Booking Request' as the subject.

Study Day Programme:

9:30 Registration
10:00 Welcome speech by LCC dean, Mike Bradshaw.
10:05 Introduction by exhibition curator Paul Gravett.

COMICS IN MAINLAND CHINA (10.15-11.15)
10.15-10.30 Lianhuanhua To Manhua: Perspective and overview by Patrick Abry with Paul Gravett.
10.30-10.45 Nie Chongrui - veteran lianhuanhua artist.
10.45-11.00 Zhang Xiaoyu - action/adventure artist.
11.00-11.15 Benjamin - art comics, young generation and link to underground and Hong Kong masters.
11:15-11:45 Tea and coffee break.

COMICS IN HONG KONG (11:45-12.45)
11.45-12.15 Connie Lam from Hong Kong Art Centre - Introduction to the distinct history of Hong Kong comics, from their origins and the martial arts weeklies to the emergence of modern wave of satirists.
12.15-12.45 Craig Au-Yeung - A personal survey of his career and influences and the experience of Cockroach magazine.

12.45-1.00 General discussion and Q&A.
1.00-2.00 Lunch

FREEDOM AND SELF-EXPRESSION (2.00-3.30)
Underground Currents Today. The emergence of alternative voices and venues for Chinese comics.

2.00-2.20 With Hong Kong feminist comic artist Lily Lau.
2.20-2.45 Craig Au-Yeung from Hong Kong and Coco Wang from China explain the alternative, small press and self-published scenes including Springroll in Hong Kong and Cult Youth and Special Comics in Beijing.
2.45 -3:30 The Chinese Diaspora: 'East meets East meets West' - Paul Gravett and Patrick Abry explain how Chinese artists are becoming successful internationally and starting to work abroad. Artists featured include: Benjamin, soon to be published by TokyoPop and Yishan Li, now working for US/ UK and French publishers.
3.30-4.00 Tea and coffee break
4.00-5.00 Demonstrations - How Manhua Are Made.
5.00-5.30 Closing discussion chaired by Paul Gravett.
5.30 Break
6:00-7:30 Reception in the gallery.

Image by Hok Tak Yeung

HONG KONG COMICS EVENING: DEMOS & DISCUSSION
Date: Wednesday 19 March 2008
Time: 5.00pm to 7.30pm
Venue: Eckersley Gallery & Podium Lecture Theatre, LCC

Comics creators Chihoi Lee and Hok Tak Yeung are two of the most dynamic and distinctive young designers active now in Hong Kong, whose stunning artwork and is featured in the exhibition. On their first ever visit to the UK, they will reveal and demonstrate their drawing techniques, both pen to paper and Wacom tablet to completer, and discuss their stories and themes and the current independent comics scene which links to comic magazines and graphic novels and the worlds of art, literature, theatre, illustration, music, fashion and more. Joining them will be fellow Hong Kong cartoonist, and urban vinyl designer, Mr. Clement and the exhibition's curator Paul Gravett.

This is a free event, with a limited number of seats available. Booking is essential. You may order a maximum of 5 tickets per person. Minimum age 18. Please RSVP to Rowena Hughes r.g.hughes@lcc.arts.ac.uk stating 'Hong Kong Comics Request' as the subject.

Image by Hok Tak Yeung