Comic Conclave 2.0

The Comic Conclave, on January 21-22, 2023, had a series of exciting talks and interactive sessions with celebrated graphic novelists, artists, filmmakers, and academic scholars. Orijit Sen, Graphic novelist, artist, and designer, talked about the ‘Story behind River of Stories’ and his current projects; Amruta Patil, Graphic novelist, and artist, delivered a talk on ‘Graphic Movement’; Sarnath Banerjee, Graphic novelist, artist, and filmmaker, engaged in a dialogue on ‘Water Wars in Delhi’; Pinaki De, Comics scholar, educator, and designer, discussed ‘The Sketchbook of Satyajit Ray and a Missed Encounter with Comics’; Nikhil Gulati, the Graphic novelist, gave a talk on ‘Time Travel through Comics: Exploring India’s Past’; Debkumar Mitra, Founder and editor of Longform Collective, educator and painter, delivered a talk on ‘Longform Story: the Long and Short of It’; and Gayatri Menon, Design educator, researcher, and artist, discussed ‘Traditional Indian Storytelling’. The event also witnessed the book release of Orijit Sen’s “River of Stories” (25th anniversary edition), India’s first graphic novel. The “Exhibition of Low Art” showcased comics by Orijit Sen, Sarnath Banerjee, Amruta Patil, Nikhil Gulati, Longform Collective, and artworks and artifacts on Indian Traditional storytelling by students of National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad (mentored by Gayatri Menon). It also exhibited some select and curated images from the original sketchbook of Satyajit Ray with support from Mr Sandeep Ray, eminent filmmaker and son of Satyajit Ray, and Pinaki De. The exhibition was curated by Prof Argha Manna, Artist-in-Residence, IITGN.

ART at the Indian Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar (IITGN) is an initiative that promotes and facilitates artistic expressions and engagements on campus. Art as a medium and practice nurtures liberal, inclusive, interdisciplinary, and futuristic values. With Art@IITGN, we envision an environment that will allow for ingenuity to thrive while simultaneously bridging the transference of intergenerational knowledge systems. This initiative provides spaces on campus for students and community members to experiment with art. Visual Story Lab ​Visual Story Lab (VSL) is founded by Argha Manna at IIT Gandhinagar. VSL approaches science, history of science, social science and other related academic disciplines critically through the lenses of visual storytelling. The chief agenda of this lab is to bridge the gap between academic research and storytelling through different visual media. Our current practices are mainly based on drawings, paintings, illustrations, comics, and graphic novels. Using these mediums and methods, we are interested in bringing critical stories like the scientific revolution, the history of science in pre and post-independence India, the Anthropocene, environmental crises, human migration, and the hunger problem in India into life. Along with our current storytelling methods, we are keen to expand our practices to animation, filmmaking, installation, and transmedia storytelling through collaboration.VSL offers a richly interwoven program of research on visual methods, creative expression, experimentation in pedagogy through visuals, and social responsibilities involving faculty, graduate students, undergraduates, and people beyond academia. IIT Gandhinagar IIT Gandhinagar is located in Palaj, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, on the banks of river Sabarmati. IIT Gandhinagar, founded in 2008, offers a unique educational experience in India with an innovative curriculum. The institute promotes critical thinking and an appreciation of interdisciplinary knowledge, emphasizing the liberal arts, project-oriented learning, and diversity.​IIT Gandhinagar campus is serene, surrounded by lush greenery and a beautiful river, offering visitors an enriching experience. The campus architecture is a blend of traditional and modern styles, making it a visual delight. Its natural beauty, modern infrastructure, and cultural diversity make it one of the most sought-after campuses in India for students and visitors alike. The campus also offers a range of facilities for visitors, including a well-equipped library, sports facilities, and comfortable accommodation options.