November 25 - December 10, Everyday from 9:30 - 17:30
@ The crossroads Centre, 18 Dashiqiao Hutong, Xicheng District, Beijing
Remember to download the Blippar App on your smart phone, iPad, or tablet to fully experience the 2D augmented reality feature of Priya's Mirror, a comic on display.
THEME
2017 Elimination of Violence Against Women Art Exhibition will specifically focus on comic series, comic strips, and standalone illustrations that feature strong female characters and address issues on women’s rights. Through the use of comics, we can spread awareness about gender issues among the Chinese community and expand the conversation surrounding these topics.
WHY COMICS?
After the success of Wonder Women, CWFF realized the immense influence and reach that comics can have on empowering women and promoting feminism globally. However, there is also a lack of powerful female role models within comic series. On the contrary, the female characters in internationally recognized comics are often labeled as the “damsel in distress”, which reinforces a backwards ideology to large audiences. CWFF believes that it is important to highlight comic artists and their work who counter this negative stereotype in hopes of influencing the comic industry to rethink their conservative interpretation of gender roles.
The Exhibition
Launched in 2014, Priya’s Shakti was a first-of-its-kind fusion of augmented reality, comic books, and social engagement. The story of Priya, a rape survivor and modern-day superhero, shattered taboos that exist in India on the subject of violence against women. The second volume of this ongoing series, Priya’s Mirror sees the heroine joining forces with acid attack survivors to take on the demon king Ahankar. As with its predecessor, Priya’s Mirror makes use of augmented reality to bring the 2D world of the comic to vivid life and unlock a number of interactive story elements. The comic book was honored by UN Women as a “gender equality champion” and was part of their HeForShe campaign. ...Learn More
Saga is a gripping space opera with fascinating characters, rich world-building, incisive social commentary, and a lot of heart. In its primary plot, Saga follows Alana and Marko, a young interracial couple from warring worlds who are on the run from their respective authorities with their newborn infant, Hazel, in tow. The story of star-crossed lovers or young parents trying to negotiate the waters of their relationship post-baby is not new, but writer Brian K. Vaughan breathes warm, sharp, and witty life into these old stories. Narrated from the perspective of an unseen, grown-up Hazel, the Saga books feel more like a strange family scrapbook than anything else. And it's a tribute to Vaughan’s assured writing that Saga to skip from the sweet, funny, and bawdy to the truly grim and horrifying without ever giving its readers tonal whiplash. ...Learn More
Sally Heathcote: Suffragette is a gripping inside story of the campaigning for the vote. A tale of loyalty, love and courage, set against a vividly realized backdrop of Edwardian Britain. It follows the fortunes of a maid-of-all-work swept up in the feminist militancy of the era ...Learn More
Dotter of her Father’s Eyes contrasts two coming of age narratives: that of Lucia, the daughter of James Joyce, and that of author Mary Talbot, daughter of the eminent scholar James S Atherton. Social expectations and gender politics, thwarted ambitions and personal tragedy are played out against two contrasting historical backgrounds, poignantly evoked by the atmospheric visual storytelling of award winning comic artist and graphic novel pioneer Bryan Talbot. Produced through an intense collaboration seldom seen between writers and artists, Dotter of her Father’s Eyes is intelligent, funny and sad – a fine addition to the evolving genre of graphic memoir. ...Learn More
Bryan Talbot originally set out to write a very accessible story about a girl leaving home and living in the Lake District of England. When writing the plot summary he decided that the reason she was leaving home was due to childhood sexual abuse: but - when he researched the issues further he concluded that this had to be the absolute central point of the whole novel, that this was so significant that the whole comic had to be about the heroine coming to terms with what had happened. Now, many victims of childhood sexual assault are able to read this comic and use it as a form of treatment for the psychological after-effects that such abuse creates. ...Learn More
The Secret Life of Gitmo's Women
This project was a collaboration with writer Sarah Mirk, who approached me after interviewing two female veterans who had been stationed in the Navy at Guantanamo. Sarah's reporting captured an often-unseen aspect of life on the base, addressing questions of gender bias and assault in a hyper-masculine field. Thanks to the honesty of the two women she interviewed, we were able to craft a powerful, lasting piece that spoke to the experiences of countless women in the military. Talking openly about sexual violence, especially within systems that tend to penalize the victim rather than the perpetrator, is never easy, but comics can offer a window into the world that feels more accessible. ... Learn More
What does Wonder Woman Actually Represent
The Wonder Woman origin story is just as fantastical as what's seen on the screen and in the pages of comic books from the 1950s to the present. The life of William Marston and his two female partners and collaborators (itself the subject of a forthcoming film) is a fascinating character study. While this introduction barely scratches the surface, it is a great chance to bring the deeper themes of Wonder Woman's character to a wider audience. Often superheroes (and heroines) become so entrenched in popular imagination that it's hard to understand who made them and why—and how they've changed since their first appearance on the scene. ...Learn More
Shamisa Debroey's Standalone Illustrations
Visiting Guests
Ram Devineni
RAM DEVINENI produced “The Russian Woodpecker”, which won the Grand Jury Prize at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival and was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award. His most recent film, “The Karma Killings,” about the Nithari serial killings is out exclusively on Netflix worldwide. He is the creator of the comic book, Priya’s Shakti and Priya’s Mirror, which received the Tribeca Film Institute New Media Fund from the Ford Foundation and supported by the World Bank, and showcased at 2016 New York Film Festival. For creating India’s first female superhero who is a rape survivor, he was named a “gender equality champion” by UN Women and named by Fast Company magazine as one of the most creative people in business in 2017.
Migo
CHENG YINGYING, who goes by the penname Migo, is a feminist, artist, illustrator, and cartoonist. Chen graduated from the China Central Academy of Fine Arts and the Art Institute of New South Wales, Australia. She has organized public advocacy activities that focus on gender equality and she is currently a consultant for a small organization called BCome. BCome is a feminist action group that advocates women’s sexual and physical autonomy. The organization also combats gender-based violence through stage performances. In 2017, Chen began to draw comics with a feminist perspective. Since then, she has created a digital comic series called Solo Theater, which highlights women’s rights, the environment, and animal protection.
Events
Social impact in comics workshop
For the International Day to End Violence Against Women (EVAW), the China Women’s Film Festival partnered with United Nations Women has invited Ram Devineni and Migo to hold a comic book workshop in Yard 27, a creative event space in the Beijing Hutongs. Devineni and Migo will not only teach participants the basics of illustrating an eye-catching comic, but will also discuss how to incorporate relevant social issues into its storyline. Workshop participants will brainstorm social issues they feel are relevant to themselves or their community and create a one-page comic that delves into this topic. This event is free.
When: 10 - 14hr, Monday & Tuesday November 27 - 28
Where: Yard 27, 27 Neiwubu Street, Dongcheng District
东城区内务部街27号，27 院儿
Presentation and Q&A
For the International Day to End Violence Against Women (EVAW), the China Women’s Film Festival partnered with United Nations Women and the Beijing American Center have invited Ram Devineni to discuss gender-based sexual violence in his comic book Priya’s Shakti. His presentation will touch on interviews with rape survivors and the use of augmented reality to bring these stories to life. Devineni’s work has reached people from all around the world, which has provoked important discussion about violence against women, a prevalent issue that exists in all societies. The presentation will be followed by a Q&A with Devineni and Chinese comic writer, Migo. Please join us for an interesting discussion at the Beijing American Center to learn more about Devineni and the social impact comic that he created. This event is free.
When: 18:30 - 20:30hr, Friday December 1
Where: Beijing American Center, 55 Anjialou Road, Chaoyang District
朝阳区安家楼路55号，北京美国中心