Phantomville - a graphic novel project

The Phantomville project is an experiment in telling short graphic tales, which, individually and together, create a local universe. [dated 2008]

The Phantomville project is an experiment in telling short graphic tales, which, individually and together, create a local universe.

Thematically, the project will explore hidden urban themes, prise open the psychic core of the two cities and open a conversation channel between the two. Artefacts of the city themselves would give rise to the stories. The structure would follow connects that are obvious, connections that are ephemeral and connections that don’t exist.

The participants from both India and Switzerland create stories and within stories, which either bear a relationship with the other or are set independent of each other, yet belong to a single meta-narrative.

This project will generate interest in the graphic novel form in artists and readers in both countries. It will create strong professional networks across two cultures, furthering creative practice on both sides. In India this is an emerging art form and the Swiss collaboration will be both enriching and enabling.

The following Indian artists have already visited Switzerland: Harsho Mohan Chattoraj visited Zurich in November 2007. Shekar Mukherjee visited Zurich in January 2008.

Swiss graphic novelists Andreas Gefe, Christoph Schuler and Andrea Caprez are currently in Delhi (Jan to Feb 2008)

The project will culminate in the publication of the first volume of Swiss-India graphic. The volume will be published by a common imprint of Phantomville and Edition Moderne in India in November 2008 in both English and German and will be ready for distribution by January 2009 in both countries. Some of the work will also be pre-published by Edition Moderne in their publication Strapazin, which is doing a special feature on travel in other cultures in September 2008.