sponsored by Transbook Children’s literature on the move
The empty spaces between the pictures of a graphic novel create ambiguity, as if you were in the fog, and your mind needs to fill those spaces. As a graphic novel is a sort of game based on that alternation between presence and absence, I believe it is the best medium to tell the type of stories I like.
Conor Stechschulte
exhibition
The weight of water (Il peso dell’acqua) | exhibition dates Nov. 24- Dic. 20 | Spazio &Inauguration on Nov. 24, 7.30 pm
This year BilBolBul presents Conor Stechschulte, an emerging artist from the USA. Stechschulte has self- produced his graphic novels for at least ten years and has experimented different printing techniques. Some of his works have been published by important publishing houses, such as Fantagraphics and Breakdown Press. Through his linear narratives he goes beyond the traditional conception of the graphic novel, looking for abstract and, somehow, poetic styles. That’s exactly what we want to show in this exhibition, hosting the largest part of his production. From his stories, such as «The amateurs», «Generous Bosom» and the mini comics «The Fence» and «Glancing», always emerge mysterious atmospheres and an inexplicable sense of fear, like those you can find in David Lynch’s art works and films. The dialogues in the pictures are both banal and ambiguous, and the readers find themselves in a condition similar to the one of a voyeur. However, in some works Stechschulte abandons almost completely linear narratives and plays with forms, repetitions, focuses, images that catch our thinking, in a way similar to poetry or musical improvisation.
meetings
Bewilderments (Spaesamenti) | Oct. 20, 9.30 pm | Modo Infoshop
with Conor Stechschulte, Giorgio Vasta
supported by Transbook children’s literature on the move
Urca Festival – Round table | Oct. 26, 10 am -1 pm | Accademia di Belle Arti di Bologna - Auditorium
with Liam Cobb, Disa Wallander, Conor Stechschulte, Anna Sranna (Klub Zin), Peter Cline (Otto Press), Johanna Maierski (Colorama), Maria Melotti (Doner Club), Berliac, Sarah Mazzeti, Valerio Stivè, Bianca Bagnarelli (Delebile)
biography
Conor Stechschulte Has been publishing his self-produced graphic novels for more than ten years. In 2014 The Amateurs was published by Frantagraphics, while Generous Bosom was published by Breakdown press in two parts, in 2014 and 2015.