Exhibition

BKK Comics Art Festival #4

By bkk UNZINE in collaboration with Children Of the Forest Foundation

This October the BKK Comics Art Festival, Thailand’s only art-forward celebration of the incredible visuals that power comics, will once again bring its unique blend of exhibition and convention activities to the heart of Bangkok. Held annually since 2022 at the venerable Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC), the BKK Comics Art Festival showcases stunning examples of classic and contemporary comics art and brings together comics creators and enthusiasts from around the world. An exciting destination for comics fans and art lovers in general, the festival is organized by bkk UNZINE in partnership with Children of the Forest (CoF) Foundation.

The BKK Comics Art Festival gives prominence to the art side of the comics industry, as opposed to the focus on merchandising and IP of more commercial comic conventions. The gallery setting of the BACC affords the opportunity to adequately show off what comics have to offer, and this year’s theme of “Storytelling” offers a look at comics as a unique marriage of visuals and narrative. The curation will showcase how local and international comics artists weave narrative through their pictures to tell stories, with or without words, and demonstrate what makes comics art so special.

The festival kicks off with a gallery exhibit on the 5th floor hall of the BACC, opening on Tuesday the 14th of October, that will lead into a weekend convention featuring presentations, panels, workshops and other fun activities for all ages during the weekend of the 25th and 26th of October. Along with panels featuring comics creators from Thailand, audiences will also be treated to many perspectives into the world of comics abroad. This year’s convention features special guest mangaka Eldo Yoshimizu, author of Ryuko and Hen Kai Pan, whose attendance is made possible by a grant from The Japan Foundation and who will share insights into the rich Japanese storytelling of manga and the processes behind his own thrilling creations during a panel interview as well as in a more intimate demonstration and discussion session.

We are also continuing our collaboration for a fourth year with the Embassy of Belgium to represent Franco-Belgian comics (or “Bandes Dessinées”) by showcasing in the exhibition pieces highlighting the relationship between the script and how it is illustrated by the artist on the page. The selected stories are written by French writer, film director and graphic novelist Loo Hui Phang, published by renowned Belgian publisher Casterman, and comics illustrated by Belgian artist Cédric Manche. The aim is to show the possibilities of thematic storytelling, visual metaphors and a holistic approach in delivering human stories.

Additionally, we are proud to partner with TAICCA (Taiwan Creative Content Agency, which promotes the development and international expansion of Taiwan’s cultural and creative industries) to have Ms. Rimui Yumin, the award-winning Taiwanese manga artist and author of The Funeral Concerto (International Manga award, 2020) also join us for the convention as special guest. She will share her journey as a comics creator, her storytelling process as well as her influences from Taiwanese comic book masters and have a book signing at the AMICO (comic book publisher by Nanmeebooks) booth. AMICO publishes the Thai language version of The Funeral Concerto.

For aspiring manga artists, we team with our sponsor Clip Studio Paint to present a special introductory workshop by acclaimed Thai comic artist Adisak “Das” Pongsampan, author of the multiple award-winning Before Becoming the Buddha (including the Bronze Award at the 17th Japan International MANGA Awards in 2023) on using Clip Studio Paint’s versatile tools for comics creation. bkk UNZINE thanks Clip Studio Paint for their continued support and generous contribution to the BKK Comics Art Festival. Opportunities for festival participants to win prizes such as valuable licenses to Clip Studio Paint will also be announced in the lead-up to the event.

For more information, please contact
Boris Aravindabalan โทร. 096-695-7541 (Main)
Nirut Chamsuwan – 081-440-4517
Chartlada Sangakij (Jam) – 098-553-6296
Facebook: bkkunzine
Website: www.bkkunzine.com