In Japan or South Korea, comics remain an integral part of reality. During World War II, even Japanese propaganda leaflets were made in manga format. In general, the tradition of pictures telling funny and fascinating stories goes back to medieval monastery scrolls and the works of old masters. The genius Katsushika Hokusai even had a special album called Hokusai Manga. Koreans (Southern and in North Korea) consider their version of comics – manhwa – to be a national treasure, but it is obvious that all this is the fruit of one genre tree.
Comic art enthusiasts live all over the world, it is not surprising that there are also her followers in Kazakhstan. Aisulu Talkanbai, under the nickname Ice Baby, posts his sharply social works, hoping with youthful maximalism, if not to change, then at least to “shake up” this world. Moreover, her audience in one of the social networks exceeds 11 thousand people. Using the example of “a girl with green hair who draws comics and lives at a flea market”, one can trace the “invisible” processes in Kazakh society.
– I graduated from the Almaty College of Decorative and Applied Arts named after Oral Tansykbaev – Aisulu told MK – Initially, I entered the faculty of painting, but at the beginning of the first year I transferred to painting. In this educational institution, teachers considered it unacceptable if a student tried to develop his own style. Many were “extinguished” to meet the requirements.
They tried to force me to take a session in the Kazakh language and thus underestimated the grades. They perceived me as a Kazakh, but I did not speak Kazakh and chose the Russian-speaking faculty. And she paid for her education, by the way.
– Was that the only problem?
– No Unfortunately. I once came to the college administration to sign up for various activities for the future portfolio. But they answered me: “Why do you need this? You are a girl, and girls get married and then do not engage in creativity. Being a mother – this is where the role of a woman ends with us.
The second problem is that we were taught to copy and kept within the culture of one people. The main subject was the composition of the ornament, although you can also study Arabic, Uzbek, Russian traditions. I tried to use African, Slavic elements. And I “fly” for it. Honestly, I don’t advise anyone to become an artist in Kazakhstan: if you want to get an education and don’t have a budget for distant countries, it’s better to try your luck at Russian universities.
– Comics, it turns out, you mastered on your own?
– Yes. My direction is strips (a series of images of two or four frames) and explainers, and if in the Japanese manner, yonkoma – comedy pictures, jokes, memes. At the same time, I can also draw classic comics – with all the details, realism, different angles. Although what I like the most is combining the two styles and revealing dramatic stories.
– Do you prefer Asian or American samples?
– Compared to Western comics, Asian comics are more inventive. Now South Korea is ahead in this industry. Koreans are better than others at bringing new ideas to comics. And I rarely read Western ones, and only those that are well known – “Watchmen”, “Scott Pilgrim” or “Maus. Survivor’s Tale” Spiegelman. Comic book theorist Scott McCloud was right to say that there are no limits in Asia, unlike the West.
– Is there more freedom in Asia than in America? Sounds paradoxical!
– In terms of creativity, it’s freer – the author and artist of comics are most often the same person. And in the States, from five to ten people work on one project, and you can be responsible for a single process, but you don’t participate in creating a script.
How does the comic start?
From the banal – an idea comes, then you write a small script. If we talk about strips, you need to write dialogues and scenes that make you smile. Then make a storyboard, most often it turns out the first time. I first make frames (frames), and then I create a composition inside, showing actions and movements. Over the years I have trained so that it is not difficult to draw ten pages in three days.
– What topics attract you?
– Topical. Ridicule of stereotypes, protection of women’s rights, bullying among young people, rejection of oneself. Violence against children and adolescents. This is something that is close to me and what I would like to reveal, somehow influence society. When this topic “shoots” loudly, everyone talks about it, but they immediately forget it.
When I studied popular bloggers, I noticed that with their huge number of subscribers, they do not talk about what is really important. So I started my blog. We think that all these problems are somewhere behind closed doors, and they are right in front of us.
– Do young people in Kazakhstan have the opportunity to freely engage in creativity?
– We do not have platforms for self-realization. I don’t mean the Web, but the physical sites. Of course, festivals are held, but the people who organize all these are aimed at making money on a subculture popular with young people. And it is extremely difficult to find work in your field, even if there are comic book publishers, game development companies, the work of artists and designers is paid below the living wage. I understand creative people who leave here.
– Does the factor of non-perception work?
– When I say that I draw comics, it seems unimaginable to many, because comics are “stupid people read.” I have to explain that this is a very diverse art. This is not a video or just an image, the comic has a narrative structure.
The layman is better “fly” short videos. Everything is being simplified so that people can quickly understand the meaning inherent in the posts and then go about their business. It is difficult to teach them to be thoughtful about creativity. In Japan, China, Korea, the population does not need to be explained how everything works, because manga is integrated into life. So even news publications come out in the form of comics.
– Allow me a personal question. How does a girl with a bright image and green hair live in the main metropolis of a state with strong Muslim traditions?
– I live in an area where a huge number of radical Muslims are concentrated, we have a mosque nearby, where prayers begin daily at 3-4 in the morning. I often meet with negativity, but not here, but when I walk in the center. There I often understand that this group of people is looking aggressively and there will be a conflict. Then I go to some dark alley. Most of the time, I prefer not to leave the house at all.
There were times when stones were thrown at me. Or I found gum in my hair. Or the uncle was standing on the balcony, and when he saw me, he began to spit. But there are also benevolent grannies: “Oh, what a beautiful hair color you have.”
– Do haters make themselves felt online?
– When I post comics about body positivity, many people disagree with me. It is said that body positivists promote obesity, although no one has ever claimed this.
But there’s this dude on the internet who’s worried about your diabetes. Although being overweight is not because you are some kind of lazy. Girls have their own reasons: a violation of hormones, someone is in the process of treatment and weight jumps. But no one should care what problems the person who struggles with this has. Bodypositive is a signal: “Everything is fixable. Everything is fine with me”.