‘Drawing thoughts together’: Indian artists’ reflections on the post-millennial Indian graphic narratives scene

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper discusses the findings of a research-orientated artists’ drawing workshop (‘Drawing Thoughts Together’) held at South Asian University (New Delhi) in March 2018. The half-day drawing workshop explored three research questions, producing individual ‘graphic narrative’ pieces as outputs from the activity. The workshop participants discussed ideas of ‘post-millennial Indian modernity’ as depicted by Indian graphic narratives which have all been published since 2000 as well as ‘post-millennial Indian modernity’ as lived experience by the participants themselves. The eight artists participating in the workshop were requested to engage with the research questions through illustrative practice since they are (all) practitioners of graphic narratives; additionally, as the researcher, I was keen to anchor the object of enquiry into the process of enquiry. The paper discusses the broader research context of Indian graphic narratives and the particular practice-based research methodology adopted for this piece of work, along with the findings and learnings of the workshop.