First exhibited in Kendal during the recent Lakes International Comic Art Festival, a new exhibition, Ten Years to Save the World, opens in Manchester on Monday (1st November 2021), showcasing comic artwork and storytelling created in response to the climate crisis by leading comic artists in the UK and the Philippines.
The free exhibition, held to coincide with COP26, is being held at SeeSaw, in Princess Street, and will run until Tuesday 12th November.
The Ten Years to Save the World comics tackle some of the most pressing issues of our time including ocean pollution, deforestation, plastics, green washing, corporate corruption, climate justice and the anxiety caused from living with the realities of climate change.
The sequential art created by ten internationally celebrated artists – Manix Abrera, Kajo Baldisimo with Budjette Tan, Sayra Begum, Darren Cullen, Ren Galeno, Emiliana Kampilan, Kevin Eric Raymundo, Zoom Rockman, Jack Teagle and Clarice Tudor – demonstrates the power of comics to stimulate climate change action.
Aimed at 18 to 24 year olds, but with a powerful message for us all, the project is a collaboration between Manchester-based climate change communications specialists Creative Concern, the Lakes International Comic Art Festival and Komiket in the Philippines.
The project is one of the British Council’s Creative Commissions, exploring climate change through art, science and digital technology. The commissions aim to stimulate global conversations about climate change and to inspire transformational change.
It is an incredible showcase for the diversity and power of comics. Crucially, the work has been informed and shaped by young people from both countries, who took part in online discussions to develop the brief for the artists.
The Ten Years to Save the World comics can also be read and shared for free online at 10yearstosavetheworld.com
“The project has an urgent message,” says Julie Tait, Director of the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. “We have ten years to make the big changes required to save our planet, it’s as simple as that.
“This digital anthology, we hope, demonstrates the important role art and specifically comic art can play in responding to the climate crisis. The partners in this project believe that comics can change the world and now, more than ever, we need to use their strength as a force for good.”
Chris Dessent of climate change communications agency Creative Concern said: “We want people to read and share these comics and the big issues they explore. Our hope is that this will lead to more climate action and more engagement in these urgent issues. Our belief is that knowledge is power and that comics are the ideal art form to help bring the climate crisis to a wider audience.”
• Ten Years to Save the World – Act Now
• Komiket is online at www.komiket.org | Follow Komiket on Twitter @komiketph
• The Lakes International Comic Art Festival runs 14th to 16th October 2022 in Bowness-in-Windermere and is online at: www.comicartfestival.com
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: British Comics, Comic Art, Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Events, Exhibitions
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