CAIROCOMIX Brings The Underground Comic Scene To Light

By: Merna Sakr
@MernaSakr1

A year after its initial success, ‘Cairo Comix’ is back to host artists from all over the world in a festival held in the AUC Tahrir campus.

The artists behind this festival, held from September 30 to October 2, Mohammed Shenawy, Magdy El-Shafie, and the twins Mohammed and Haitham Ra’fat, share a common vision: to create impactful art and to establish a platform for uncensored expression.

The festival brought together over 30 comic artists with regional and international exhibitors, publishers, experts, and scores of fans. The downtown campus was transformed into a festival of cartoon and color, with fans hungry to meet all their favorite artists.

The event felt like a nostalgic journey into the world of childhood cartoons and comic book characters.

The organizers divided the festival into two parts: an exhibition of different comics, and a competition which allows people from across the world to submit their artwork, for a chance at multiple awards offered.

The artists behind Cairo Comix are on a journey to propagate art with both meaning and impact. They aim to create a platform for artistry that is not bound by rules or the censorship that comes with the support of the Ministry of Culture.

“We’re trying to support artists who have neither the funds nor the proper coverage they need to impact society,” stated Mohamed Ra’fat, co-founder of Cairo Comix and El Garage magazine.

“Comics are the sick men of art in the Middle East and we are here today in an academic festival that encourages both research and entertainment,” he said.

Influenced by French artists, Mohamed Kandil, co-founder of quarterly comic magazine TokTok, started his career by using art to emphasize human imperfections.

“Art is not meant to be perfect, it’s meant to make people feel something and that is why it directs people to places with new stories and opportunities,” Kandil expressed.

Kandil’s main aim out of drawing is to create comics that are conversation openers because he does not believe in direct art.

“A true artist must be shameless because art knows no shame,” Kandil said.

In regards to all the different artists who generously conversed with their fans and offered constructive feedback on their personal work, participants were thrilled to be part of the festival.

“I came all the way from Alexandria just to be here today and I would do it all over again every single day to attend a Cairo Comix festival,” said Tasnime Chawky, an undergraduate student in the Faculty of Arts, Alexandria University.

However, for 17-year-old student, Khaled Mitwally, Cairo Comix was his escape plan.

“I went through a dark time when I lived alone because my family couldn’t care less about me and I had no friends, that’s when I started expressing all the pain I feel through writing. I later realized that combining both drawing and writing into one art form really brought out my ability to express myself,” said Mitwally.

Adham Yasser, 16, also believes that the art of comics revolves around the ability to express oneself. He had been entering competitions hoping to be discovered as a comic artist.

“I’m attending this festival for the second time and I noticed that most people focus on politics or taboo issues, but I just like to draw what I feel. I may not be good with words when I speak, but I’m at my best when I draw,” stated Yasser.

In their bid to offer as much entertainment as possible, one of the artists, known as ‘Makhlouf’ drew portraits of the attendees in less than 30 seconds each, an act that was praised by the participants.

Ever since they teamed up, they have been determined to impact art enthusiasts in the Arab world.