29 June – 6 July @ Spectrum Project Space ·
Presented by Perth Comics Art Festival (PCAF) ·

Opening Friday, 29 June, 1:10pm – 2:10pm
Runs daily 30 June to 6 July 10am – 5pm

Edith Cowan University’s (ECU) Spectrum Project Space proudly presents Comics West celebrating the last thirty years of comic making in Western Australia, including comics pages, illustrations, digital comics and augmented reality.

Making comics is a hidden activity, occurring in home studios as a side job for many of its makers. Comics artists spend many long hours perfecting their skillsets as makers of comics, be it writing, drawing with pencils and inks, painting with acrylics, gouache and watercolours, digital tablets and programs that end up in printed or online. There can be a considerable difference between the original work and what is seen as the end product.

This exhibition will feature 24 artists who employ a diverse range of tools and materials that go into making comics. Comics West organizer, Bruce Mutard says “from Shaun Tan’s versatility with traditional materials, Mel Tregonning’s facility with the graphite pencil, to Stuart Campbell’ scrolling digital comics and augmented reality (which viewers will be able to download the required apps to view), or Hien Pham’s choose-your-own-adventure queer love stories, you will see that comics are more than what Robert Crumb once described as ‘just lines on paper, folks’.”

Comics West has been created to showcase the comics that have been made and are being made throughout Western Australia. All the artists were either born in WA, resided here for some time, have moved here or have moved on. They all have a connection to WA.

“My hope is that viewers will see that there is a thriving hub of comics making in this state and that it’s not all just costumed superheroes” said Mr Mutard.

Comics West will be open to the public from Friday, 29 June to Friday, 6 July at Spectrum Project Space, Mount Lawley Campus, Edith Cowan University.

Exhibiting artists: Shaun Tan, Justin Randall, Emily Smith, Ben Templesmith, Ashley Wood, Bruce Mutard, Carol Wood & Susan Butcher, Gary Chaloner, Stuart Campbell, Aly Faye, Campbell Whyte, Andrei Buters, Alyce Sarich, Hien Pham, Leonie Brialey, Andrew Richardson, Shane Tholen, Aśka, Skye Odgen, Mel Tregonning, Stuart Medley, Nathan Viney and ECU Illustration students.

More info
W: https://www.facebook.com/PerthComicArtsFestival/
E: spectrum@ecu.edu.au

Pictured: Small Things (excerpt), Mel Tregonning.